Nick Sirianni Explains Why Eagles Keep Running the “Tush Push,” Challenges Other Teams to Stop It
The Philadelphia Eagles’ signature “tush push” once again stole the spotlight in their 20-17 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs, drawing renewed scrutiny from opponents and league analysts who remain frustrated that the play has not been banned.
The origins of the play date back to 2021, when then-Eagles offensive coordinator Shane Steichen first experimented with it. “I remember when we were there the first year, we put it in and then obviously we started going, ‘Hey, let’s do this and let’s do that,’” Steichen recalled. “The next thing you know it was, ‘Let’s put two pushers back there,’ and that became the play. We don’t need to get too creative with it. We need one yard and we’re really good at this so let’s keep doing it until they stop it.”
Head coach Nick Sirianni fell in love with the concept. “We’d get down to the two and Nick would be like, ‘Four quarterback sneaks in a row, let’s call it,’” Steichen said. “I was like, ‘Yeah, that’s fair. We’re going to get one yard, then we’ll get another yard and then we’ll score and that’s how it works. You’re the boss.’”
Four seasons later, the play has become one of the most effective and controversial tactics in football. Against the Chiefs, the Eagles ran the tush push seven times, converting critical downs and even setting up a Saquon Barkley touchdown. Chiefs defenders repeatedly argued that Eagles guards Tyler Steen and Landon Dickerson moved early before the snap, but no penalties were called.
NFL officiating analyst Dean Blandino voiced his frustration during FOX’s broadcast: “I am done with the tush push guys. It’s a hard play to officiate.”
Sirianni, however, defended his team’s execution. “The one clip I saw of it was slowed down so much that I’m not sure you can see that to the naked eye,” he explained. “So you can do that with a lot of plays… slow it down and the referees have a hard job.”
The Eagles sealed the game in the fourth quarter with back-to-back tush push conversions, draining the clock and preventing any late Chiefs comeback. Despite Kansas City’s claims, officials stood by the no-calls.
For now, Sirianni made it clear that Philadelphia isn’t backing away: “We understand that we have to be perfect on that play, and we’ll keep working on being perfect on that play.”
With opponents calling it unfair and fans labeling it unstoppable, the tush push remains the most talked-about play in football—and for the Eagles, it continues to deliver wins.
Video - Nick Sirianni Reflecting on the Win vs Kansas City Chiefs:
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