The "tush push" play is sticking around for another season, and it's creating quite the buzz in the NFL. Back in 2025, the Packers made a move to ban this quarterback push play due to safety concerns, but they fell short by just two votes. This offseason, the topic didn’t even make it to the Competition Committee’s agenda.
Eagles coach Nick Sirianni, whose team is known for using the play extensively, seems unfazed by the ongoing debate. “I didn’t really have a feel like I’m like, ‘Oh, I felt this way.
I felt that way,’ you know?” Sirianni remarked.
He emphasized adaptability as a coach, noting, “Your job is to figure it out, whether it’s the kickoff rule or anything else.”
Last season, the Eagles converted 21 of 33 attempts with the play, a 63.6 percent success rate, according to TushPush.fyi. The league-wide conversion rate also dipped to 76.8 percent from a previous 82 percent between 2022 and 2024, as reported by ESPN.
49ers General Manager John Lynch shared his insights, noting, “There was momentum for a ban going into last year’s meetings, but things flipped.” He observed that teams might be getting better at defending it, or perhaps they're using it less to protect their quarterbacks. “Maybe it’s solving itself, but we’ll see,” Lynch added.
Sirianni is focused on refining the Eagles’ execution of their signature "Brotherly Shove" play. “We either need to get back to being dominant or find new ways to convert on third down or in the red zone,” he explained.
The offseason is a time for innovation, and Sirianni is excited about exploring new strategies. “You’re always trying to plant seeds of doubt in the defense, and this play has that potential.
We’ve got to coach it better and execute it better, and I’m looking forward to what’s next.”
As the league evolves, the "tush push" continues to be a fascinating element of the game, challenging teams to adapt and innovate.