There may not be a more polarizing play in NFL history than Philadelphia’s “tush push.”
Sometimes referred to as the “brotherly shove,” it’s a play where the quarterback lines up under center and is pushed forward by teammates, typically in short-yardage or goal line situations. It's a variation of the QB sneak, but with added pushing assistance from other players directly to the QB’s tush.
Hence, “tush push.”
The Eagles started running this play during the 2021 season on the backs of an all-time great offensive line, as well as a quarterback in Jalen Hurts who famously squats more than just about anyone who has ever squatted. The play has helped lead Philadelphia to two NFC titles, and a Super Bowl victory this past season.
Some call it dangerous. Some call it unstoppable.
If you watch football on a regular basis, you have an opinion on the “tush push.”
And this past May, NFL teams let their opinions be heard loud and clear on the matter, with 22 teams voting to ban the play at the league’s spring meeting in Minnesota.
But with 24 votes being needed to make a rule change, the pushing of the tush will remain in 2025.
One of the 10 teams who voted against the brotherly ban was, indeed, New England. And on Monday ahead of day 14 of training camp, offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels was asked for his opinion on the play.
“I've never done it,” said McDaniels. “Doesn’t mean that I wouldn’t do it. I think it depends on if you feel like you need that to gain additional inertia and move the ball forward. Obviously, the Eagles are exceptional at it, and have been for a few years now. I don't dislike the play.
“Again, I think each team is probably going to make their own decision. One thing I think is it's not an easy play to practice in full pads and get good at because we're obviously not going to create a bunch of scrums on the practice field with our own defense and risk injuries and those kinds of things. So you're going to have to find creative ways to do that if you're going to do it. And I'm sure defending it is much the same conversation - you know, how do we defend this if we're not allowed to dive at the center's legs? And I mean, all the things that defenses have tried to do to stop it. So you know, we'll look at everything that may help our team win, and certainly Vrabes will make the final decision on things like that.”
In McDaniels’ many seasons as offensive coordinator with Tom Brady under center, the QB sneak was a staple of the Patriots’ goal line offense. Brady basically batted 1.000 on those plays, having an incredible sense of both timing and space. He knew when to get low and ride his center’s butt into the end zone, and he knew when to go Air Brady and leap over the top.
With second-year quarterback Drake Maye now at the helm, it’s natural to wonder if the Patriots would think about implementing a nearly unstoppable play into their offense, as Maye has all the traits you’d want for a quarterback taking the push in the tush.
He’s strong, he’s mobile, and he’s not afraid to take on contact.
Both McDaniels and head coach Mike Vrabel have mentioned throughout the offseason a desire to have more designed run plays for Maye in 2025, and maybe this short yardage shove will be a part of that repertoire.
At the very least, McDaniels is not opposed to pushing the tush.
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