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Tony Dungy weighs in negatively on Eagles' Tush Push ban outcome

Originally posted on A to Z Sports | By Kelsey Kramer | Last updated May 28, 2025 12:02 AM ET

The NFL ultimately decided not to ban the "tush push" last week.

Despite concerns raised by some coaches and teams over player safety and the play’s perceived unfair advantage, especially due to its near-automatic success in short-yardage situations, the competition committee opted to leave the rule alone.

Supporters argued that the play is a legitimate strategic option and that defenses should adapt rather than expect regulation changes.

However, if it were up to former NFL safety and head coach Tony Dungy, the tush push would have been banned.

"I just think it's not fair football," Dungy said. "I was disappointed, but not surprised.. To me it's like if you're at the 1-yd line, and they put 2 WR's on top of each other and threw the ball to him.. It's not a play that's fair."

Tony Dungy says he's "disappointed" the Tush Push wasn't banned: "I just think it's not fair football. I was disappointed, but not surprised.. To me it's like if you're at the 1-yd line, and they put 2 WR's on top of each other and threw the ball to him.. It's not a play that's… pic.twitter.com/j7NXfpCARa
— Eagles Nation (@PHLEaglesNation) May 27, 2025

The Eagles have mastered the "tush push," which is simply just a variation of the quarterback sneak where multiple players line up behind the QB to help push him forward. With Jalen Hurts' strength, elite offensive line play, and precise execution, the Eagles converted the play at an exceptionally high rate.

While it may look easy to the rest of the league, it takes a ton of practice and effort, according to head coach Nick Sirianni.

"I can't tell you how many times we've practiced the snap, we've practiced the play -- it's not a play that's easy to practice, so there's different ways we've figured out how to practice it -- the complements that come off of it that can create explosive plays," Sirianni said at the NFL Combine. "The fact that it's [portrayed] as an automatic thing, we work really hard, and our guys are talented at this play, and so it's a little insulting to say we're good at it so it's automatic. We work really hard at it."