Philadelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni revealed a surprising vulnerability in his team’s playbook during mandatory minicamp on Tuesday, admitting that the famed Tush Push play—despite its dominance—still needs significant improvement to stay ahead in 2025. The revelation comes on the heels of a heated NFL debate over the play’s legality, with opponents failing to ban it earlier this year.
“Excited about being able to continue to grow that play,” Sirianni told reporters, per a team transcript (h/t Josh Alper of Pro Football Talk). “We have a lot of work to do to continue that success. It just doesn’t happen. The same work we put into it last year, we’ll even have to be better because we know teams are going to focus on it to try to stop it.”
The Tush Push, a quarterback sneak where teammates push the ball-carrier from behind, has been a cornerstone of the Eagles’ short-yardage strategy. Since 2022, Philadelphia has converted an impressive 85.5 percent of their Tush Push sneaks for either a first down or a touchdown, according to ESPN’s Kalyn Kahler. Yet, Sirianni’s comments suggest that even this near-unstoppable play isn’t flawless, and the Eagles are bracing for tougher defensive schemes aimed at neutralizing it.
The NFL nearly outlawed the play during its spring meetings in Minneapolis in May 2025. The Green Bay Packers proposed banning any pushing or pulling of a ball-carrier across the field, a rule that would have effectively eliminated the Tush Push. The proposal garnered 22 votes but fell two short of the 24 needed to pass, leaving the play intact for the upcoming season. The 22-10 vote underscored the league’s divided stance on the controversial tactic, with some teams viewing it as a safety concern and others as a strategic advantage.
As the defending Super Bowl champions, the Eagles face intense scrutiny, and Sirianni knows opponents are gunning for them. “Teams are going to focus on it to try to stop it,” he said, emphasizing the need for better coaching, execution, and complementary plays to keep the Tush Push effective. “That’s our process right now—to think about the ways we’re going to get better at running that play and the complements that come off of it.”
Sirianni’s candor highlights the pressure on Philadelphia to evolve as they chase back-to-back Super Bowl titles. While the Tush Push remains a potent weapon, its success hinges on relentless refinement. With the NFL unable to ban it, the Eagles are doubling down on perfecting their signature play, daring the league to catch up.