The Philadelphia Eagles' controversial "tush push" play could be facing a ban, but head coach Nick Sirianni isn't giving up without a fight. As NFL owners prepare to vote on potentially eliminating the Eagles' highly effective short-yardage tactic, Sirianni made his stance clear in recent comments to NFL Network's Mike Garafolo.
"We'll see how it goes. All I will say about it is (Jonathan) Gannon, (Shane) Steichen and (Kellen) Moore better vote for it. They are in the (head coach) position right now because of that play. So all three, I better have those three votes right there and the Eagles' vote. I at least know we have four," Sirianni told Garafolo.
The Eagles have perfected this quarterback sneak variation, which involves teammates pushing quarterback Jalen Hurts forward after the snap, making it nearly unstoppable in short-yardage situations. This tactical advantage has been a significant factor in Philadelphia's success, including its recent Super Bowl victory over the Kansas City Chiefs.
According to NFL insider Dianna Russini, opposition to the play is mounting. "I feel like it's getting more momentum in terms of those opposed to it than I've ever heard before. Usually, it's like everyone going, ‘Nah, nah, nah,' and there are those one or two people that sit on it and are against it, but it's catching fire," Russini recently said on Scoop City.
Related: Eagles ‘Tush Push' Debate Continues All-Time Greatness
Sirianni's comments highlight his belief that former Eagles assistants who have moved on to head coaching positions-Gannon, Steichen and Moore-owe their career advancement partly to the success of this play and should therefore support keeping it legal.
For the play to be banned, 75% of NFL owners-24 of 32 teams-would need to vote in favor. The outcome of this vote could significantly impact Philadelphia's offensive strategy moving forward as the team looks to defend its championship.
Related: Former All-Pro Reacts To Eagles ‘Tush Push' Ban
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This story was originally published March 30, 2025 at 4:32 PM.