The Philadelphia Eagles’ signature quarterback sneak, known as the “Tush Push,” has become one of the NFL’s most controversial and effective strategies. A video posted by NFL Films explores the play’s origins and reveals how a Minnesota Vikings linebacker inadvertently predicted its creation.
The Birth of the Tush Push
Philadelphia’s modified quarterback sneak has been a tour-de-force and a cheat code, frustrating opposing defenses for years. While the Eagles have perfected the play, its origins can be traced back to 2018, when Minnesota Vikings linebacker Anthony Barr had a moment of insight.
NFL Films captured a mic’d up Barr mentally working his way through the mechanics of the play while taking a breather on the bench during a 2018 game.
The real Tush Push origin story:
Anthony Barr was 2 years ahead of the curve 🤯 #NFLFilmsPresents pic.twitter.com/dShAYxQ3vc
— NFL Films (@NFLFilms) February 26, 2025
in the video, Barr pitches the concept to teammate Harrison Smith during a game on Minnesota’s bench. “I just think you should put, like, someone, [a] big dude at quarterback, and then another big dude right behind him and just mush him. Or two big guys right behind him and just have a double push.”
In a later interview, Barr explains, “My mind was like quarterback sneak should always work, there’s no reason it shouldn’t work.”
Barr, known for his strategic thinking, shared his thought process, “The wheels are always spinning. Whether it’s seven in the morning brushing my teeth or midnight right before bed, I’m thinking of ways to hopefully give our team the advantage.”
How The Tush Push Went From An Idea To An Actuality
While Barr’s idea planted the seed, Nick Sirianni, then the Indianapolis Colts offensive coordinator, first implemented the play in 2020. Sirianni used 238-pound backup quarterback Jacoby Brissett, instead of 39-year-old Philip Rivers, to execute the move against the Tennessee Titans and it resulted in a touchdown that sealed the win.
When Sirianni became the head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles in 2021, he brought the play with him, and it quickly became a staple of the Eagles’ offense. In Week 5 against the Carolina Panthers, Jalen Hurts scored on a quarterback sneak aided by tight end and fullback Jack Stoll.
Six weeks later against the New Orleans Saints, Hurts converted on a quarterback sneak with tight end Dallas Goedert giving the assist.
How Successful and Effective Is The Eagles’ Tush Push
The Eagles have put on a masterclass when it comes to executing the “Tush Push” at an unprecedented level. In the 2022 season, they successfully executed the play 36 out of 39 attempts, an astounding 92.3% success rate. In 2023, the Eagles successfully executed the Tush Push 35 out of 42 attempts, achieving an 83.3% success rate. This efficiency has continued, with the Eagles converting 38 of 47 attempts in the 2024 season.
While other teams have tried to replicate Philadelphia’s Tush Push, also known as the Brotherly Shove, few have succeeded. The not-so-secret ingredient to the recipe is Hurts’ ability to squat more than 600 pounds.
Combine Hurts’ power with the driving force of two other big bodies pushing Hurts behind two even bigger bodies in left tackle Jordan Mailata (365 pounds) and left guard Landon Dickerson (332 pounds)and you get a crushing lesson in physics for the defense.
As center Cam Jurgens explains, “It’s like a truck with four-wheel drive. If something goes wrong, like a flat tire or this, it won’t work. It’s all of us moving together in unison.”
In the 2024 NFC Championship between the Eagles and Washington Commanders, linebacker Frankie Luvu attempted to time the snap and get a head start on the Tush Push, but was penalized for leaping offsides multiple times. The consecutive infractions led to a little-known enforcement in the rule book.
The Tush Push Controversy and Potential Ban
The play’s effectiveness has led to teams calling for its ban. Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris was vehement in his opposition to the play, stating, “It should’ve been illegal three years ago… I’ve never been a big fan. There’s no other play in our game where you can absolutely get behind somebody and push them, pull them off, do anything.”
The Green Bay Packers recently proposed a ban of the Tush Push to the NFL competition committee, igniting this response from ESPN NFL Live analyst Ryan Clark, “How soft do you have to be? Oh, we can’t stop it. Our defensive tackles aren’t tough enough. Our linebackers get hurt. Shut the hell up. Somebody [needs to] get physical and stop the play.”
When asked about the potential ban Sirianni responded with, “It’s almost insulting. We work so hard on that play. The amount of coaching and fundamentals, how the players deal with it. I can’t tell you how many times we’ve practiced it. We saw a team fail at it in the [conference] championship games.”
As of now, the play remains legal, with a slight modification requiring players pushing the quarterback to stand at least one yard behind him.
Without question, the Eagles’ mastery of the “Tush Push” is not just a game-changing play, it’s league-changing. As debates continue to rage about its future, one thing is sure: the “Tush Push” has left an indelible mark on football.
