In recent years, Quarterback sneaking has become increasingly popular in the NFL. This fact is not only clear from watching games but also backed by data. Since 2017, the amount of Quarterback sneaks in the NFL through the first 8 weeks of the season has tripled, from just 47 times to nearly 150 times. The leading reason for this increase, of course, is the introduction and recent rise of a play that has been coined as the ‘tush push.’
Popularized by the Eagles, the ‘tush push’ is a special play that is used primarily on third and fourth down plays, usually with 1 yard to go. As the name suggests, the play involves a team’s offensive linemen literally pushing their quarterback from behind to get the first down. So far this season, the Eagles have a success rate of over 90% with this play, compared to the rest of the league which sits at around 70%.
This high success rate, paired with the Eagles’ frequent use of the play, has stirred up some controversy around the league. Arguments against the play claim that it is dangerous, and not the way football should be played. Despite rumors, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has not yet taken a stance on the issue.
Even if he was completely on board with getting rid of it, it would still have to be voted on by the competition committee, which if successfully voted against wouldn’t go into effect until next season.
Among the NFL, various players have also taken a stance on the issue. Austin Ekeler, a star running back who currently plays for the Chargers, responded to the issue on the podcast “Brother For Another” by saying, “When I’m a running back and I have someone behind me, pushing me as we get the pile going, it’s one of the best feelings because you feel like you’re all connected.” On the other hand, Jason Kelce, who is a star offensive lineman on the Eagles and a driving force in the Eagle’s success with the tush push, is clearly tired of debating the issue. On a recent episode of his “New Heights” podcast, he said, “I don’t have the energy to care about whether it gets banned or not. We’re gonna run it right now because we’re good at it and it’s effective.”
While the play can be seen as unfair and “unfootball-like”, is it damaging enough to be deserving of a permanent ban? This is a question that will likely be debated through the remainder of this NFL season until it is ultimately decided whether or not the tush push is here to stay.
