Report: NFL competition committee to look into Eagles' 'Brotherly Shove' QB sneak play
The NFL competition committee is getting set to look into the QB sneak play. In particular, they’re going to look into the play made famous by the Philadelphia Eagles, sometimes called the ‘Tush Push’ or the ‘Brotherly Shove’ play.
Adam Schefter reported that the NFL competition committee is going to be studying the play, along with the NFLPA. In particular, they will be looking at injury data related to the play.
“Brotherly shove: The controversial play has the attention of the competition committee, and the NFL and the NFLPA plan to study all the injury data related to the play, as is customary, during the off-season, per a league official, especially after two Giants were injured on the play Monday night,” Schefter wrote. “The brotherly shove also will be a topic of discussion during the off-season, as it was last off-season. But nothing will change this season; the brotherly shove is here for 2023.”
This particular QB sneak play has seemingly been perfected by the Eagles. With a future Hall of Fame center in Jason Kelce and a strong quarterback in Jalen Hurts, the Eagles have been incredibly difficult to stop with other players pushing him forward on a sneak.
In the Eagles’ game against the New York Giants, two New York defenders did leave with injuries on the play.
“It’s been a good play for us,” Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni said. “A really good play for us… It’s not as automatic as people think, as we’re seeing across the NFL.”
Hurts has been incredibly tough to stop on this play. However, it’s not impossible. Tampa Bay managed to stop the sneak, behind star Vita Vea. Still, ESPN Stats & Information says that the play has worked on 34 of 37 attempts since 2022.
The play has also been criticized by defensive coordinators, like Jack Del Rio of the Washington Commanders.
“I would personally like to see it eliminated, not just because they run it better than anybody, although they do run it better than anybody. But I don’t think that’s a football play. I think it’s a nice rugby play, and it’s not what we’re looking for in football.”
There is going to be a debate about the play and the rules around it may change in the future. For now, though, the play is legal and teams like the Eagles will continue to run it. So will offenses around the NFL, and until the rule is changed, Nick Sirianni has a solution for those who don’t like it. Stop it.
“There is clearly a talent to it that our guys have,” Sirianni said. “I get that some people are complaining about it, but stop it. Stop the play.”