As debates heat up within the NFL regarding the controversial “Brotherly Shove” play, also known as the “Tush Push,” two of football’s most vocal stars-Travis and Jason Kelce-have decided to weigh in. The maneuver, most famously executed by the Philadelphia Eagles with Jalen Hurts under center and Jason Kelce snapping the ball, has been under scrutiny from the league’s competition committee.
Some team owners and executives are pushing to eliminate it entirely from the game. But the Kelce brothers aren’t having it.
On the latest episode of their New Heights podcast, Travis Kelce had a straightforward response for those lobbying to ban the play: “It’s football.”
The Kansas City Chiefs tight end argued that the outrage surrounding the tactic is misplaced, especially considering how infrequently it’s actually used.
“Listen, there are four downs that a team gets to get a first down or get in the end zone,” Travis said. “The Tush Push is just one play that you run when you have a short-yardage situation. Those may come up a handful of times throughout a game.”
He acknowledged that while the play is often highlighted due to its success rate and physicality, it’s not as dominant or overused as some critics suggest.
“You can’t get upset at that one play,” Travis continued. “And like, I understand the whole, if you want to say it’s not safe. Football isn’t a safe game to play. So, I know we’re trying to make it safer or whatever. … I think it’s a football-type of play. It’s a toughness play that you need to be in sync with the guys next to you and the guys around you, and that’s on both sides of the ball.”
Jason Kelce defends play’s legitimacy and practicality
Jason Kelce, recently retired from the Eagles and the literal anchor of many successful Tush Push plays, also joined the discussion, providing a firm rebuttal to those calling for the play’s removal. According to Jason, the argument that the play is inherently dangerous is more speculation than fact.
“I think it’s going to be a hard rule to enforce,” Jason said. “Like, are gang tackles outlawed? When big Creed Humphrey gets behind a running back and he’s pushing him, pushing the pile forward, do we not want that? Because I like that.”
Jason argued that if the league truly wants to legislate the Tush Push out of existence, it must be done in a way that applies consistently across the board. Simply targeting one play would create enforcement challenges and inconsistency.
The veteran center also noted that his former Eagles teammate, Jordan Mailata – who has a rugby background-dismissed comparisons to scrums, explaining that the Tush Push is more of a traditional show of strength and cohesion than anything borrowed from another sport.
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