The Philadelphia Eagles‘ signature short-yardage play-the so-called “tush push”-is here to stay, at least for now. But head coach Nick Sirianni isn’t taking its effectiveness for granted.
As the rest of the NFL continues searching for ways to neutralize it, Sirianni made it clear this week that the Eagles must find ways to stay ahead.
While the NFL recently upheld the legality of the tactic-sometimes referred to as a “rugby scrum” quarterback sneak-Sirianni said continued success with it will require renewed focus and precision.
“Excited about being able to continue to grow that play,” Sirianni told reporters during OTAs. “We have a lot of work to do to continue that success. It just doesn’t happen.”
The play, which typically involves quarterback Jalen Hurts being pushed from behind by teammates on fourth-and-short or at the goal line, became a hallmark of Philadelphia’s offense over the past two seasons.
While its success rate was staggering, it also drew criticism from around the league, with some claiming it created an unfair competitive advantage.
Opponents targeting Eagles’ short-yardage dominance
Several teams, including those led by Sirianni‘s former assistants, advocated for the play to be banned.
Both Jonathan Gannon (Arizona Cardinals) and Shane Steichen (Indianapolis Colts), who previously served as defensive and offensive coordinators in Philadelphia, voted in favor of eliminating the push-style sneak.
The Packers formally proposed the change, but it was ultimately struck down at the NFL’s annual meeting.
Sirianni sidestepped direct comments on the vote but made it clear that the Eagles can’t expect the same results from the same approach without refinement.
“We’ll even have to be better because we know teams are going to focus on it to try to stop it,” he said. “We’ll even have to be better at how we coach it and how we perform it and how we execute.”
Despite its simplicity, the “tush push” has proven difficult to counter, in part due to the Eagles‘ powerful offensive line and Hurts’ lower-body strength.
But as defenses grow more familiar with the mechanics and timing, Philadelphia knows it must stay unpredictable.
“That’s our process right now – to think about the ways that we’re going to get better at running that play and the compliments that come off of it,” Sirianni added.
The Eagles have already shown they can build off the formation, occasionally running fake pushes or lateral plays to keep defenses guessing.
That creativity will be essential in 2025 as teams dedicate more practice time to stopping it.
While the “tush push” remains legal and largely unstoppable for now, Sirianni’s message is clear: its future depends on staying one step ahead.
As the Eagles aim to return to the top of the NFC, their ability to adapt even their most effective tools could be the difference between good and great.
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