Eagles owner may have revealed potential backup plans if 'tush push' is banned

The Philadelphia Eagles want to revive an often-forgotten position to help continue their dominance in the run game and potentially make up for the "tush push" play if it's banned.

Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie called into Sports Radio 94WIP to celebrate legendary defensive end Brandon Graham, who announced his retirement after winning a second Super Bowl with the team. While the show honored Graham's 15-year career, Lurie's final comments to host Jon Ritchie revealed the team's offensive plans in 2025.

"We're going to try to quietly resurrect the fullback position," Lurie said, adding that he believes the position still has a role in the modern NFL.

Ritchie played fullback for the Eagles from 2003 to 2004 and retired before the 2006 season. Although his time with the Eagles was short, his attitude at the position made an impact on fans and the front office.

Typically, the fullback is an extra blocker for the running back, who can build momentum by running with them from behind the offensive line. However, the modern fullback does a little bit of everything these days.

The most prominent fullback is San Francisco 49ers Kyle Juszczyk, who's used not just as a blocker but also as a bruising runner for short-yardage situations and a pass catcher out of the backfield. Juszczyk is quite athletic for a fullback, so the 49ers re-signed the 34-year-old to a two-year, $8 million contract and retained an impact player. 

The Eagles don't have a fullback like Juszczyk, but they may not need one. As part of their dominance on the ground during the 2024 season, the Eagles put former linebacker Ben VanSumeren in the backfield as a lead blocker for running back Saquon Barkley. VanSumeren played fullback in college at the University of Michigan before switching sides. He was so impressive in his role that the Eagles switched his number from No. 57 to a traditional fullback number, No. 43. 

VanSumeren's time on offense in 2024 was derailed by a season-ending knee injury in December, but if he returns to the lineup healthy, the team must hope he'll be back in the backfield for the Eagles this season.

The Eagles' revitalization of the fullback may also be necessary, as the fate of the "tush push" play is still undecided. After the Green Bay Packers submitted a proposal to ban the play, NFL team owners and officials tabled the discussion for another round of meetings this month. 

According to The Athletic's NFL insider Dianna Russini, the play has a major detractor in NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, who thinks it's not a football play. While no significant injuries have been linked to the play, it certainly isn't flashy and an outlier in a flashy league.

The fullback position is itself a throwback to a bygone age of football. So, of course, the Eagles, who have built a reputation on old-school smash-mouth football, would want to utilize it. But just having an extra blocker won't make up for the success of the Brotherly Shove. Every team would like a fullback for short-yardage plays if it were that simple. 

But lining up one man to get the ball on 4th-and-1 usually makes it obvious who's getting the rock, which makes it easier for the defense to overload the line. The "tush push" puts the ball in the hands of the quarterback under center, who gets an assist from the backs, pushing him forward. 

A dedicated fullback may add a dangerous new dimension to the defending champs, but their identity will still be the "Brotherly Shove."