Sirianni Speaks Out: Why Banning the Tush Push Would Be Unfair to the Eagles

During a recent NFL scouting combine, Philadelphia Eagles coach Nick Sirianni addressed the growing debate about the “tush push” play, a tactic that’s been quite successful for his team. Some critics are calling for this play to be banned, which Sirianni feels is a bit “unfair.” He emphasized that it takes a lot of hard work and skill to execute, saying it’s not just an automatic win for the Eagles.

Sirianni expressed frustration at the notion that the play comes easy. “We practice the snap and the play extensively,” he explained. “It’s not simple to master, and we have to find creative ways to prepare for it. Our players are talented, and it’s insulting to suggest that it’s just automatic.”

Amid this discussion, Green Bay Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst confirmed that his team proposed banning the tush push. Outgoing Packers president Mark Murphy previously stated that he believes the play is “bad for the game.” The NFL is set to vote on this proposal at the annual league meeting in Palm Beach, Florida, unless the Packers decide to withdraw it. For the ban to go into effect, 24 out of 32 NFL owners would need to support it.

While the competition committee examined the play in past seasons without taking action, opinions among coaches vary. Atlanta Falcons coach Raheem Morris has indicated he would support banning the play, while Buffalo Bills coach Sean McDermott acknowledged concerns about player safety but noted that his own team uses it frequently.

However, Sirianni pushed back against claims that the tush push introduces significant injury risks. “We’ve analyzed this, and the injury numbers just don’t back that up,” he stated. “I can’t recall any injuries from this play during the past season, and we ran it more than anyone else.”

Since 2022, the Eagles have executed 108 tush pushes, far surpassing other teams like the Bills (55) and Bears (16). Remarkably, the Eagles and Bills have scored a touchdown or gained a first down on 87% of their attempts with this play, while other NFL teams have only seen a success rate of 71%.

Given the Eagles’ effective use of the tush push, Sirianni remains protective of it. “Just because we have success with it doesn’t mean it should be banned,” he argued. “The players work hard, and our results show that.”

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