The Philadelphia Eagles have established the “Tush Push” as their signature play, using it often en route to winning Super Bowl 59. There has been a growing sentiment to ban the play from the NFL, with the Green Bay Packers leading the charge this offseason.
Former linebacker Anthony Barr came up with the idea while mic’d up during a 2018 game and was recently asked about the potential ban.
Anthony Barr Says Banning ‘Tush Push’ Is A ‘Slippery Slope’
The Eagles have nearly perfected the quarterback sneak, converting over 81% of their attempts in 2024. It’s been a tour de force and a cheat code, frustrating opposing defenses for the last three seasons.
Philadelphia designed the play in 2022, but Barr had the idea in 2018 with the Minnesota Vikings.
Barr pitched 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.”
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, resulting 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.
A TMZ reporter recently asked Barr if he ever thought the play would be as successful as it has been, and he responded, “Yeah, of course, that’s why I brought it up.” When asked about the possible ban, he said, “Yeah, I think it’s a slippery slope. You ban one play, then what’s next? I think you just gotta find a way to stop it.”
Teams have tried, but none have found a consistent way to stop the “tush push.” 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.
Jalen Hurts consistently goes to his left behind Jordan Mailata and Landon Dickerson. Each lineman weighs over 330 pounds, and Hurts can squat more than 600. That’s a lot of force at one focal point. Barr might not have seriously expected the play to be as unstoppable as it has been, but he has to be pleased that his idea has worked.