Some plays don’t just win games; they define eras. The West Coast offense turned Joe Montana into a legend. The RPO made Patrick Mahomes a generational talent. And in Philadelphia, the “Tush Push” became something bigger than just a football play—it became a Philly trademark. It’s the kind of move that makes traditionalists groan and defensive coordinators lose sleep. Third-and-1? Fourth-and-goal? No problem. Line up, snap the ball, and watch Jalen Hurts get bulldozed forward by a wall of muscle and momentum.

It’s not pretty, but it’s effective—too effective, if you ask the rest of the league. No one probably felt the heat of the move more than the Washington Commanders in the NFC Championship game. The Commanders jumped offside four times in a sequence of five plays while trying to stop the tush push. In the first penalty, Jonathan Allen was whistled for lining up in the neutral zone. After Washington stopped Hurts once, linebacker Frankie Luvu jumped over the Eagles’ offensive line on second down and was penalized for encroachment. Second-and-goal again. Luvu leaped over the line and was flagged again. Repeat second-and-goal. This time, Allen was flagged for encroachment.

At that point, referee Shaun Hochuli had enough of it. “Washington has been advised that referees can award a score [TD] if this type of behavior happens again,” he told the crowd. Sounds Absurd? Well, it is right there in Rule 12, Section 3, Article 2 of the league’s rule book! Titled “Fouls To Prevent Score,” it states, “The defense shall not commit successive or repeated fouls to prevent a score.” Further, the rule reads that “if the violation is repeated after a warning, the score involved is awarded to the offensive team.” 

“It’s a great concept, great play, hard to stop,” Commanders linebacker Bobby Wagner said. Indeed. The Eagles were successful on 28 of 34 tush push attempts this season, according to Next Gen Stats. Overall, Hurts converted 35 of 43 attempts this year on third- or fourth-and-1 from anywhere on the field, plus any other runs from the 1-yard line. In fact, in the Super Bowl game against the Chiefs, it is the Tush Push that opened the floodgate for them, with a 7-0 lead. The most ridiculous part is teams know it is coming, but still they can not stop it!

That’s why, once again, the NFL is circling the Eagles. Roger Goodell and the competition committee have their sights set on the Tush Push, and if history has taught us anything, when the league wants something gone, it usually doesn’t take no for an answer. The Philadelphia Eagles’ infamous “Tush Push” play—Jalen Hurts’ cheat code for converting short-yardage situations—is back under the microscope, and the NFL’s rulebook might finally catch up. The league’s competition committee, led by Rich McKay, is circling the play like a hawk eyeing its prey.

“Rich McKay says the NFL competition committee spent no time today on the push-the-quarterback sneak but expects to discuss it at some point.” Let’s start with the play everyone’s obsessed with: the “Tush Push.” Imagine Jalen Hurts, crouched low like a sprinter, with ex-NFL star Jason Kelce snapping the ball and Saquon Barkley shoving him forward like a human bulldozer. It’s equal parts genius and chaotic, like Ocean’s Eleven meets Friday Night Lights.

“For me, as a center, it sucks,” Kelce once groaned, channeling the play’s brutal physicality. But critics—like Green Bay Packers president Mark Murphy—aren’t buying the grit. Murphy called it a play that “doesn’t require any skill,” while broadcaster Jim Nantz griped it “feels too automatic.”

Yet, the numbers don’t lie. The Eagles bulldozed their way to a 14-3 record in 2024, racking up 3,048 rushing yards (thanks largely to Barkley’s 2,005-yard MVP-caliber season). Hurts himself became a dual-threat demigod, logging 1,000+ rushing yards and 14 TDs—many via the Tush Push. But here’s the kicker: the NFL’s competition committee is now weighing whether to ban the play’s formation. If they do, Philly loses its Swiss Army knife. “We’re the only people that’s doing it as well as we are,” Hurts said defiantly. Translation: let us cook.

What makes the Eagles’ Tush Push so polarizing isn’t just its success—it’s how it embodies Philly’s identity. The effectiveness of the play remained unwavering even after Cam Jurgens replaced the retired Jason Kelce at center. This is a team that thrives on old-school physicality, like Rocky Balboa training in a meat freezer. Kelce’s “it sucks” quote isn’t a complaint; it’s a badge of honor. Meanwhile, Hurts, ever the diplomat, refuses to even call it the Tush Push. “I keep it very standard,” he told Jimmy Fallon, while Barkley smirked about “pushing the tush.”

But the NFL’s evolving. Rules today favor Patrick Mahomes’ backyard Hail Marys over blood-and-guts sneak plays. Banning the Tush Push would feel like penalizing a chef for using too much butter—it’s effective, but maybe too effective. As Kelce put it: “You don’t make rules to stop one team.” Unless, of course, that team’s turning the NFL into their personal Madden franchise.

Goodell’s kickoff gambit

While the Tush Push debate simmers, Roger Goodell is stirring another pot. The league is considering moving kickoffs back 5 yards (to the 30-yard line) and adjusting touchbacks to the 35-yard line. For casual fans, that’s about as exciting as a spreadsheet. But for NFL nerds? It’s a seismic shift. Think ‘Red Wedding’-level chaos for special teams coordinators.

Why does this matter for Philly? The Eagles’ kickoff unit allowed just 1,771 rushing yards last year—a stat that’ll take a hit if returners get more runway. Plus, with Hurts’ offense averaging 27.2 points per game, shorter fields could turn the Birds’ high-flying attack into an even bigger nightmare for defenses.

But here’s the rub: if touchbacks become more frequent, gadget plays and strategic kicks (like Morten Andersen’s coffin-corner masterpieces) might go extinct. “It’s about player safety, but also keeping the game exciting,” McKay hinted, sounding like a dad trying to balance curfew and prom night. The Eagles aren’t going down without a fight.

But if the NFL axes the play, Philly’s adaptability will be tested. Luckily, this is a team that turned Hurts’ 2,903 passing yards and A.J. Brown’s 1,079 receiving yards into art. And let’s not forget C.J. Gardner-Johnson’s 6 INTs or Zack Baun’s 150 tackles—proof that defense still wins championships.

As for the kickoff changes? Embrace the chaos. The Eagles’ front office, led by Howie Roseman, has mastered the salary cap like Moneyball on steroids. They’ll adjust. Because in Philly, underdogs don’t stay underdogs for long.

Bottom Line: The NFL’s rulebook might be coming for the Eagles’ crown jewels, but if there’s one thing this team knows, it’s how to pivot. Whether it’s Jalen Hurts tush-pushing his way into history or the league rewriting its kickoff script, Philly’s ready to play ball. After all, as Jason Kelce once roared in that viral parade speech: “No one likes us… and we don’t care!” Game on, Roger. Game on.