Steelers TE Fires Back at Criticism Over ‘Tush Push’ in Win vs Vikings

The Pittsburgh Steelers’ 24-21 victory over the Minnesota Vikings in Dublin didn’t just spark headlines for the win – it also stirred league-wide debate over a single play.

Midway through the second quarter, Pittsburgh lined up for a short-yardage situation. Instead of quarterback Aaron Rodgers handling the snap, the Steelers went with a bruising power formation, driving their tight end forward while teammates piled in from behind. The play resembled the infamous “tush push,” a move that has drawn scrutiny and even a league vote to ban.

The moment quickly went viral. Rival players and fans took aim at Pittsburgh for using the very tactic they once opposed, with Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Nolan Smith Jr. mocking the Steelers openly. “It’s funny to me – they were one of the teams that wanted to ban it, and now they’re out here trying it themselves. You can’t knock the success of what we do in Philly, but don’t act like you hate it and then copy it,” Smith Jr. said.

For Pittsburgh, the criticism didn’t go unanswered. After the game, the tight end at the heart of the play finally spoke up. That player was Darnell Washington.

“People can say whatever they want. At the end of the day, football is about finding ways to win. If pushing me forward gets us the first down, then we’re going to do it. Call it what you want – we call it Steelers football,” Washington said.

The “tush push” has long been associated with the Eagles and Jalen Hurts, who have turned it into a nearly unstoppable weapon. But with Pittsburgh joining the list of teams willing to run their own version, Washington made it clear the Steelers aren’t worried about outside noise. “It worked. We moved the chains. And as long as we’re winning games, I don’t really care who’s laughing,” he added.

For the Steelers, the victory was another sign of resilience, moving them to 3-1 on the year. For Washington, it was a chance to silence doubters – and show that sometimes, the simplest plays still get the job done.