Micah Parsons doubles down on criticism of Eagles’ Tush Push: ‘I hate that play’

If Micah Parsons had a vote on whether the “Tush Push” should remain a legal play in the NFL, he would likely be a no. The Green Bay Packers (3-1-1) linebacker has been an outspoken critic of the controversial play, made famous by the Philadelphia Eagles (4-2).

Thursday, he took his criticism to another level. He flat out said he hates the play, saying it’s impossible to defend when offensive linemen are getting a jump start.

“Sh*t, if you ask the Eagles’ offensive players, they’ll probably say, ‘That’s the best thing we’re doing on offense right now,'” Parsons said, via Matt Schneidman of The Athletic. “It’s the most consistent thing they’ve got. That might come [back] and bite me one day. It is what it is. I hate that play… you can’t stop it if they’re leaving early.”

Micah Parsons called out Eagles for repeated use of Tush Push

Parsons had to defend against the play regularly during his time in Dallas. Now a Packer, he was watching the Eagles last week on Thursday Night Football, and he didn’t like what he was seeing.

At one point in the second quarter of its game against the New York Giants (2-4), Philadelphia dialed up the play four consecutive times inside New York’s 10-yard line. The Eagles scored on their fourth attempt of the Tush Push on that second quarter drive. But it appeared Philadelphia got away with a false start on the third Tush Push attempt. Right guard Tyler Steen looked like he got a head start before center Cam Jurgens snapped the ball.

No penalty was called on the play. Prime Video rules analyst Terry McAulay said that it was a false start. He added that it’s a difficult play to judge in real time. Had the penalty been called, that would have backed Philadelphia up. Instead, they scored on the next play to take a 17-13 lead.

“This is not football! [trash can emoji]” Parsons tweeted.

The Tush Push has been a hot topic since last offseason. In May, NFL owners came up two votes shy of banning the play. The proposal to ban the Tush Push was created by the Packers, who lost to the Eagles in the NFC Wild Card Round of the 2024 playoffs. If this continues, expect it to come to a vote once again this coming offseason.