The Philadelphia Eagles’ infamous “tush push” could be on the chopping block, but head coach Nick Sirianni isn’t backing down without a fight. As NFL owners get ready to vote on whether to ban the play, Sirianni made it clear where he stands.
Speaking with NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo, Sirianni had a playful yet pointed message: “We’ll see how it goes, but (Jonathan) Gannon, (Shane) Steichen, and (Kellen) Moore better vote for it. They’re head coaches now because of that play. So, I know we’ve got at least four votes locked in.”
The Eagles have mastered this quarterback sneak variation, where Jalen Hurts gets a push from his teammates to gain those tough short-yardage conversions. It’s been nearly unstoppable and played a big role in Philly’s success including their recent Super Bowl win over the Chiefs.
But not everyone is a fan. According to NFL insider Dianna Russini, opposition to the play is gaining steam. “I feel like more people are against it now than ever before. Usually, it’s just a few complaints here and there, but this time, it’s really catching fire,” she said on Scoop City.
For the play to be banned, 24 out of 32 NFL team owners (75%) need to vote against it. If that happens, the Eagles will have to rethink part of their offensive game plan as they look to defend their title.
Sirianni, however, believes that former Eagles assistants now head Coaches owe some of their career success to the “tush push” and should support keeping it legal. Whether that’s enough to sway the vote remains to be seen.
