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Why Broncos coach Sean Payton is not opposed to Eagles’ controversial ‘tush push’ play

By September 30, 2025 | updated 1 month ago

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts sets his team up for the tush push during an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Sunday, Sep. 21, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)

Don’t count Sean Payton among those hoping to ban the tush push. 

The Broncos (2-2) travel to face the Eagles (4-0) on Sunday where quarterback Jalen Hurts and the Philadelphia offensive line have mastered the assisted QB sneak. But the tush push — where teammates push against the backside of their quarterback behind a tight nine-man line — is hotly debated in NFL circles.  

League owners nearly passed a proposal in May to prohibit the play. But they fell two votes short (22-10) of a ban on offensive players from pushing, pulling, lifting or encircling a runner. The proposal was brought forward by the Packers.  

Payton, on a Tuesday media teleconference call, explained why he is not in favor of banning the so-called tush push.  

“I’ve been involved in those meetings for a long time, and when all of the sudden health and safety was pulled into that — which might be the safest play in football — my bull (crap) nose kind went up,” Payton said. “So, look, it’s a quarterback sneak. I think credit Philadelphia. They scored a touchdown last week … off the tush-push look. And it was a sweep to the left. I’m one that looks at it, as long as the line of scrimmage is clean, that it’s a well-run quarterback sneak. And when you really evaluate it, it’s more (about) the technique of the sneak than the push. 

“So, you go all the way back to Green Bay against Dallas in the Ice bowl, and (quarterback) Bart Starr crosses the goal line with someone pushing a little bit behind him. So, I was one that was in favor of leaving it alone on Philly’s side.” 

Hurts has the size (6-foot-1, 223 pounds) and skill to bulldoze into the end zone with the help of teammates. He’s logged 59 rushing touchdowns over his six-year NFL career. Last week, as Payton mentioned, the Eagles defeated the Buccaneers with two touchdowns out of the tush push formation that were not quarterback sneaks.  

“Everything we do is a team effort, but it’s an exciting play. It makes it pretty exciting, right?” Eagles coach Nick Sirianni told reporters in Tampa Bay after a 31-25 win Sunday over the Buccaneers. “When we were coming over here, I’m watching the (Vikings-Steelers) Ireland game and I (saw) this commercial on Pepsi of them going: ‘Hey, when in Philly.’ And they’re sneaking it. People like this play. Then there are some things off of the play that make it really exciting. It seems like people and fans really like the play, and it was pretty exciting today to get two touchdowns that come off of it that make that play what it is.” 

The Broncos will counter the tush push with the league’s best red-zone defense. Denver has given up touchdowns on just 3 of 12 opponent trips into the red zone. Defensive lineman and team captain D.J. Jones has a straightforward solution to limiting the effectiveness of Philadelphia’s unique formation. 

“First and foremost, don’t get in a short-yardage situation,” Jones said on Tuesday. “That’s with any team. Then if it arises, man, just grab your nuts, and try our best to stop it.”

Kyle Fredrickson

Reporter

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