The world’s most talked-about play could be no more as of this week.
NFL owners are meeting on Tuesday and Wednesday to discuss a number of rule changes ahead of the 2025 season.
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High on the list of priorities is the Green Bay Packers’ proposal to ban the ‘Tush Push’ after it helped the Philadelphia Eagles win the Super Bowl.
But according to the champions, NFL fans across the world have been calling it the wrong thing.
“That’s not what I call it,” said Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts, who was named Super Bowl MVP after Philly dominated Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs 40-22 in New Orleans.
Saquon Barkley and Hurts enjoyed their championship triumph with a joint appearance on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon.
As the host questioned the Eagles teammates about the famous play, few answers were provided.
“What do you call it?” Fallon asked.
“I’m not going to say what I call it, but it’s not that,” Hurts said.
The Super Bowl MVP was smiling as he replied, knowing that he was holding back a huge reveal by keeping the real name of the violent play, which has also been dubbed the ‘Brotherly Shove’ private.
Fans loved watching Hurts tease the real name.
But they loved even more how Barkley had his QB’s back.
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“When I got there, I knew it as the Tush Push,” Barkley said. “I thought it was called that, but it’s not called the Tush Push, actually.”
The record-setting running back did explain his job during a play that sees almost every Eagle push Hurts forward in a rugby-like scrum.
“I have the easiest job, to be honest,” Barkley said.
“I’m the one who pushes the tush.”
The audience broke into laughter after Barkley’s honest admission.
But getting the real name of the Super Bowl play wasn’t happening.
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Former Eagles center Jason Kelce first perfected the art, snapping the ball to Hurts, who then drives forward with the ball in hand.
The divisive move has become synonymous with the Eagles over the past few seasons, but they weren’t the first team to come up with it.
The origins of the ‘Tush Push’ can be traced back to 2018 when Minnesota Vikings linebacker Anthony Barr suggested doing it while wearing an NFL Films wire.
The Eagles then took it over and won Super Bowl LIX with the old-fashioned football move.
Yet it might take years before fans learn what the ‘Tush Push’ is really called.
NFL owners first discussed a vote on banning the play at the annual league meeting in Palm Beach, Florida in March, with a debate arising over the potential for injuries.
And decision time appears to finally be here with meetings to be held in Minneapolis, where the Detroit Lions’ proposal to re-seed playoff teams based on record and allowing players to participate in flag football at the 2028 Olympics are other hot topics, per multiple reports.
A new rule needs 24 of 32 teams to agree in order to pass and according to Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports, 16 voted in favor of a ban in March.
The Packers’ proposal reportedly has supporters, but some personnel wanted clarification on the wording.
“No offensive player may immediately at the snap, push or throw his body against a teammate, who was lined up directly behind the snapper and received the snap, to aid him in an attempt to gain yardage,” Green Bay’s suggestion read.
According to Sports Illustrated, New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel and Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh were among those who needed further information.
The Eagles will need to hope that enough teams remain opposed to a ban in order to keep running their almost unstoppable short-yardage weapon.
The reason they are so successful is Hurts, who can squat 600 pounds. With or without the Tush Push, that is a force to be reckoned with when needing to get over the line.
Whatever happens this week, one burning question will remain… What is the play actually called?
