Eagles’ Tush Push Troubles: Has the NFL Finally Caught Up to Philly’s Signature Play?
For the better part of three seasons, the Philadelphia Eagles’ “Brotherly Shove” was as close to automatic as anything in football. Need a yard?
Line up Jalen Hurts behind that powerhouse offensive line, get a push from behind, and move the chains. Simple.
Relentless. Nearly unstoppable.
But now? Not so much.
In a recent primetime matchup against the Chicago Bears, the Eagles turned to their go-to play in a critical third-and-one situation. The result wasn’t just a failed conversion-it was a momentum-shifting turnover.
Hurts was stripped by Bears defensive back Nahshon Wright, who not only forced the fumble but also pounced on it. The Bears then marched down the field on a 12-play, clock-chewing drive that ended in a touchdown and a 17-9 lead.
Just like that, what had once been Philly’s most reliable tool became a liability.
This wasn’t the first warning sign. A few weeks earlier, the Eagles ran the same play against the Giants.
That time, the ball came loose again-but an early whistle saved them, with officials ruling forward progress had been stopped. They dodged a bullet then.
Against Chicago, there was no such reprieve.
After the game, Hurts didn’t make excuses. “I was hoping that (my forward progress) was stopped, but it wasn't,” he said.
“It was kind of similar to the New York game except that they just didn't blow the whistle as soon. That's not to point the finger at anyone else.
I mean, I have to hold onto the ball. It definitely presents itself as an issue, and it always has.
It's just never gotten us, and so (Friday) it got us, and it's something that we and I need to tighten up.”
He’s right. The ball security issue is real-but it’s only part of the story.
The bigger question: Is the Tush Push still worth it?
Let’s rewind. After a beautifully executed touchdown pass from Hurts to A.J.
Brown, the Eagles missed the extra point. Still, the defense stepped up, with rookie Jalyx Hunt snagging an interception deep in Bears territory.
It was the kind of swing moment that championship teams capitalize on. But four plays later, the Eagles lined up for their signature short-yardage play-and coughed it up.
That’s not just a missed opportunity. That’s a gut punch.
And it’s not an isolated incident. The numbers tell a sobering story.
Against Detroit in their last win before this game, the Eagles went just 1-for-6 on Brotherly Shove attempts. At that point in the season, they’d run the play 24 times and converted only 15-a 62.5% success rate.
Compare that to the 92.6% clip in 2022, 88.1% in 2023, and 82.4% in 2024, and it’s clear the play has lost its edge.
That’s a steep decline.
Now, let’s be clear: the Tush Push isn’t just a play-it’s been a statement. A flex.
A symbol of Philly’s physical dominance in the trenches. But in a league built on adjustments, defenses have started to figure it out.
Whether it’s better pre-snap alignment, more aggressive penetration, or simply more preparation, teams are no longer caught off guard. The element of surprise is gone.
The margin for error is razor-thin.
And when that margin disappears-when the play doesn’t just fail but results in a turnover-it’s time to reassess.
That doesn’t mean scrapping the play entirely. But it does mean the Eagles have to be smarter about when and how they use it.
The NFL has clearly adapted. Now it’s on Philly to evolve.
A.J. Brown hinted at it recently: the league knows what the Eagles do well.
It’s time to add more wrinkles, more unpredictability. Because when your bread-and-butter play becomes a liability, it forces a larger conversation-not just about play-calling, but about identity.
The Eagles are still a contender. They still have the talent, the coaching, the experience.
But the days of leaning on the Brotherly Shove as a cheat code may be over. What was once a guaranteed yard now comes with risk-and in this league, risk management is everything.
The Tush Push isn’t dead. But it’s no longer untouchable. And for the Eagles, that might be the most important lesson of all.