Sean McDermott has been vocal about his opposition to the “tush push,” emerging as one of the play’s most outspoken critics due to concerns over player safety.
During the NFL’s annual league meeting in March, the Buffalo Bills head coach reaffirmed his stance, saying the league would benefit from outlawing the play entirely.
“It comes down to two things,” McDermott explained, according to Eliot Shorr-Parks of 94.1 WIP in Philadelphia. “First, the added force involved, and second, the body position players are required to take to run it. That’s where my concerns lie.”
Interestingly, Bills quarterback Josh Allen holds a much different view. In a recent interview with Sports Illustrated, the reigning NFL MVP defended the play, arguing that opponents should focus on stopping it rather than calling for its removal.
“If you can’t stop it, keep running it, right?” Allen said. “There are a few teams that execute it better than others, but then you have teams that try and don’t have the same results—either because they don’t practice it enough or they don’t have the right personnel.
“Just because some teams have more success with it doesn’t mean it should be banned.”
What is the Tush Push?
The tush push—often called the “Brotherly Shove”—is a rugby-inspired play where teammates push the quarterback forward from behind, typically in short-yardage situations. It’s become a signature move for the Super Bowl-winning Philadelphia Eagles, who executed it successfully 28 times out of 34 attempts during the 2024–25 season.
Despite efforts to outlaw it—22 teams, including the Bills, voted in favor of banning the play—it will remain legal in the NFL for at least another year.
“I get what the play offers, so I don’t feel strongly for or against it,” Josh Allen said. “I just try to play within the rules as they’re written. If the league had decided to ban it, we’d find another solution.
“But as long as it’s allowed, use it to your advantage. And if you’re against it, my advice is simple: stop it.”
Which NFL Teams Run the Tush Push Best?
The Bills have developed their own take on the tush push, utilizing the size and strength of their 6-foot-5, 237-pound quarterback Josh Allen. One of the NFL’s premier dual-threat QBs, Allen rushed for 531 yards and ranked second only to Philadelphia’s Jalen Hurts with 12 rushing touchdowns last season.
Since 2022, 12 different teams have scored touchdowns using some version of the tush push, according to ESPN. While the Eagles lead the league in total attempts with 124, no team has been more efficient than the Bills, who have converted a league-best 88.2% of their attempts into first downs.