The infamous Tush Push has been the talk of the NFL‘s annual league meeting as coaches and executives continue to debate the pros and cons of one of the most controversial plays in league history.
The Green Bay Packers proposed banning the Tush Push, and the measure has support within the competition committee. The main reasons cited for getting rid of the creative quarterback sneak center on player safety concerns and pace of play.
Browns HC Kevin Stefanski Doesn’t Want Tush Push ‘Legislated’
Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski doesn’t see what all the fuss is about. No public data has been leaked linking the Tush Push to an increase in injuries. Further, there is nothing illegal about the play under the NFL’s rulebook.
The rub seems to be that some coaches just don’t like the formation, comparing the Tush Push to a rugby scrum.
Stefanski went on record at the league meeting to share his support for the Tush Push. The Browns are one of seven teams in favor of keeping the play legal, according to an unofficial CBS Sports poll. The NFL would need 24 teams to vote “yes” on banning the Tush Push for the play to go away.
Stefanski said, “To eliminate a quarterback sneak from getting pushed, I don’t know that it’s something that needs to be legislated out of the game. The injury data is not there for it. So I would be in favor of keeping the rules as they are.”
Philadelphia Eagles Double Down on Tush Push
The Philadelphia Eagles started using the Tush Push in 2022 as an easy way to move the chains on short downs and distances. The quarterback sneak has been nearly unstoppable, thanks in large part to the strength of Jalen Hurts, who has been known to squat up to 600 pounds.
Head coach Nick Sirianni has been vocal about the legality of the play, once joking that maybe the NFL will look into banning A.J. Brown from catching deep balls next. His point is that it’s not fair to punish a team or player just for being really good at something.
“We’d be good at it because we have really good players,” Sirianni told reporters via the Delaware News Journal’s Martin Frank.
“Somebody said the other day that we coach the push different. The push just has extra push. Everything else is coached exactly the same. We get a lot of reps at it. We’ve been really successful at it. But I think we’d be successful either way. I think there are a lot of exciting things that can happen off the push.”