Saquon Barkley calls out teams who voted to ban Tush Push: 'I think it's soft'

Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley didn’t hold back his feelings regarding teams trying to ban the “tush push.” When enough teams voted to keep it around, there was a sigh of relief from the Eagles and fans alike.

But that doesn’t mean Barkley would forget who wanted to outlaw the play. He called the play the sign of a great team. Barkley also called the 2024 Eagles a top-five team of all-time, which has an argument, but certainly up for debate; a long one.

With Barkley, the team’s elite offensive line and quarterback Jalen Hurts, the Eagles have mastered their version of the quarterback sneak. The tush push is here to stay and Barkley didn’t hold back on detractors of the play.

“I think it’s soft, to be honest,” Barkley said on the Exciting Mics podcast with teammates Reed Blankenship and Cooper DeJean. “Everybody can do it. It’s not a play that we only can do. We happen to have one of the best and biggest O-lines, and Jalen Hurts can squat 600 pounds. That’s not our fault.”

Barkley mentioned the Buffalo Bills, who utilized a version of the tush push, as a team who tries it, but unsuccessfully. Ironically, the Bills were one of the 22 teams to vote in favor of banning the play.

“Josh Allen is super big, they’re not successful with it,” Barkley said. “Lamar Jackson is one of the best running quarterbacks of all-time, they’re not successful with it. So it’s not something that everyone can’t do. Them trying to eliminate it, I think that’s kind of lame.”

The 10 teams that voted in favor of keeping the play around were the Ravens (so maybe Jackson and the offense will keep attempting it), Browns, Lions, Jaguars, Dolphins, Patriots, Saints, Jets and Titans.

“Everybody can do it, there’s no health issue,” Barkley said. Clearly enough teams thought so and voted to keep the play around, at least for 2025.

Barkley didn’t need the tush push to be successful last season and neither did the Eagles in totality. The team finished 14-3, earned the No. 2 seed and rolled through the playoffs, culminating in a domination of the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX.

Barkley had the best season of his career, putting up 345 carries for 2,005 yards, 13 touchdowns and 5.8 yards per carry. He was shy of Eric Dickerson’s all-time record, but Barkley now holds the record for most rushing yards in a single season if you include the postseason. That total stands at 2,504 yards, passing Terrell Davis (2,476). Davis even has the No. 3 all-time spot too with 2,331 yards.

Barkley and the Eagles will attempt to be only the third franchise in the 21st century to repeat as Super Bowl champions. With the crux of their team back, they are currently the betting favorites.