NEW ORLEANS – The Philadelphia Eagles have one of the most unstoppable plays in football, a play that teams have tried to get banned in the past to no avail. The ‘Tush Push’ has been the signature play of the Eagles’ run over the last three seasons, resulting in two Super Bowl appearances and 39 regular-season wins.
Plenty of Tush Push was used in Super Bowl LVII, with Jalen Hurts completing all six of his quarterback sneaks in that game. Hurts had three rushing touchdowns during the Super Bowl loss to the Chiefs, though only one came from the Tush Push.
The play is still controversial due to its success rate. Philadelphia was successful on 36 of 39 attempts (92.3%) during the 2022 season, leading them to the Super Bowl. Defenses struggle against a quarterback pushed into the end zone by a wall of massive offensive linemen over just a yard.
Explaining the Tush Push
In the Tush Push, the quarterback is propelled forward by players from behind him through the defensive line. The running back and tight end align behind the quarterback to assist him in gaining those crucial yards during short-yardage and goal-line situations. It resembles a rugby scrum more than typical NFL play, focusing more on execution than flair.
Why do the Eagles execute the Tush Push so effectively?
The Eagles excel with the Tush Push not solely due to Jalen Hurts’ ability to surge into the end zone. A combination of factors contributes to their success. The play involves Hurts moving behind the notably large left tackle Jordan Mailata (365 pounds) and left guard Landon Dickerson (332 pounds), along with center Cam Jurgens who adds 303 pounds. This formidable front creates a near-impenetrable barrier.
‘It’s like a truck with four-wheel drive,’ Jurgens remarked. ‘If something goes wrong, it won’t work. It takes everyone moving together.’
The Eagles have an impressive conversion percentage, achieving 38 of 47 Tush Push attempts for first downs or touchdowns this season (playoffs included). Eight of the nine failures were followed by immediate conversions on the next play using a Tush Push.
The only significant halt occurred after a miscommunication in Week 1, where they subsequently kicked a field goal. That was Jurgens’ first start in the NFL following Jason Kelce’s retirement.
‘They can’t stop it, and not everyone can execute it as well,’ Jurgens reflected. ‘If everyone could do it, there would be no need to discuss banning it. Few teams achieve the level of success that we do.’
