The hidden controversy that could finally end the Eagles’ Tush Push
The NFL has kept Philadelphia’s famous brotherly shove around for now, but a controversial counter to it could be the reason it finally gets banned.
The Philadelphia Eagles’ signature tush push is back in the spotlight, and not just for whether or not it should be banned, but for how defenses are countering it.
Eagles’ Tush Push sparks new officiating controversy over “disconcerting signals”
During the Eagles’ Week 2 clash with the Kansas City Chiefs, FOX highlighted a missed false start on the play. But players and league sources say another penalty may have been missed: Chiefs defenders appeared to mimic Jalen Hurts’ cadence, a tactic known as “disconcerting signals.” According to the NFL rulebook, that’s a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, but it hasn’t been called since 2017.
Eagles linemen insist that opposing defenses, from the Rams to the Packers, have used the trick, sometimes leading to costly false starts. “I thought mimicking the cadence is a penalty,” left tackle Jordan Mailata said, noting the Chiefs did it in both Week 2 and the Super Bowl.
Jordan Mailata says defenses are mimicking Eagles cadence at the snap to try to ruin the Tush Push.
— Eliot Shorr-Parks (@EliotShorrParks) September 17, 2025
Mimicking the cadence is against the rules and a penalty
Chiefs did it. Packers did it. Washington did it
Eagles have told the refs and it still hasnt stopped@SportsRadioWIP pic.twitter.com/93aU9ZSAlr
The problem is, it’s almost impossible for officials to regulate. Since 2010, referees no longer stand near the defensive line for safety reasons, making it harder to hear defenders’ shouts. Crowd noise further complicates matters. “It’s a very hard play to officiate,” former NFL official Jerry Bergman admitted.
Perfectly fine with the NFL banning pushing and forcing the Eagles to run a traditional QB sneak.
— Sheil Kapadia (@SheilKapadia) September 23, 2025
But this new talking point that the tush push has to go because it’s hard to officiate? C’mon. Don’t fall for it!https://t.co/zHOi7I9qwO pic.twitter.com/05HrTjA4O5
Despite offseason debate, owners narrowly voted to keep the tush push legal. Now, as defenses push the boundaries of the rules to stop it, critics argue this chaos only strengthens the case for banning the play altogether. Not everyone agrees, of course. It may just be another excuse from teams who don’t execute it as well as Philly.
The origins of the Tush Push with @Shanemgillis and @druski 😅 pic.twitter.com/xYNDbpTIwi
— ESPN (@espn) July 17, 2025
For now, the Eagles will keep leaning on their unstoppable short-yardage weapon, while opponents keep trying to throw them off by any means necessary.
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