Jason Kelce hits back at Terry Pegula over controversial Tush Push claim

“If anybody has any questions about the tush push or whether I retired because of the tush push—I'll tell you this right now. I'll come out of retirement today if you tell me all I gotta do is run 80 tush pushes to play in the NFL,” he shot back on his New Heights podcast. “It'll be the easiest job in the world.” Meanwhile, Pegula’s jab wasn’t just personal—it was strategic.

Kelce vs. Pegula: A Battle of Narratives

The Bills, second only to Philly in Tush Push usage, oddly pushed to ban it. Kelce, however, crashed the owners’ meetings like a linebacker, dismantling claims that the play forced his retirement. There’s no data suggesting it’s unsafe, argued the Philly brigade, citing the Eagles’ 87% success rate since 2022.

Posted by New Heights on Wednesday, May 21, 2025

His presence swayed undecided owners, with Steelers president Art Rooney II admitting Kelce’s testimony, “[It] is a safe play, not something we need to worry about that much.”

The vote failed 22-10, two shy of the ban. But Pegula had framed Kelce’s “grueling” podcast comments as proof of danger. Even JJ Watt backed him, tweeting, “If we take everything that ‘sucks’ and is ‘grueling’ out of sports, there ain’t gonna be much left…”

Why This Fight Matters for Philly

For the Eagles, keeping the Tush Push isn’t just about strategy—it’s identity. The play powered their 2024 Super Bowl run, becoming as Philly as a soft pretzel stand. Banning it would’ve stripped their edge, akin to outlawing the 1985 Bears’ 46 Defense. Kelce’s advocacy preserved their legacy, but scrutiny lingers.

“The play sucks to run, but it sucks because of exertion. It’s not going to be a play, in my opinion, where you’re going to see this huge increase and chance of risk of injury,” Kelce said. His rebuttal also shields future centers from unfair blame. His stats—zero Tush Push-related injuries in 13 seasons—debunk safety myths. Yet, the league’s May revisit looms. Will owners target the play again, or will Kelce’s defense stand like concrete at the Linc?

In the end, this isn’t just about a play—it’s about legacy, competition, and who controls the narrative. Kelce, ever the Philly folk hero, channeled The Sandlot’s Smalls: 'Heroes get remembered, but legends never die.'