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Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley isn't interested in sugarcoating his thoughts about the NFL's failed attempt to ban the team's infamous "tush push" play. Speaking on the Exciting Mics podcast alongside teammates Reed Blankenship and Cooper DeJean,Barkley labeled the pushback against the play as "soft" and "lame," and argued that it's not an unfair tactic, just one most teams can't pull off.
The play, which has become a hallmark of the Eagles' short-yardage strategy under head coach Nick Sirianni and quarterback Jalen Hurts, was the subject of intense debate at the NFL's annual league meetings. Although 22 of the 32 teams voted to eliminate it, the motion fell short of the required supermajority.
"It's not our fault we execute it better"
Barkley made it clear that the Eagles' success with the tush push stems from their personnel, not a flaw in the rules. "Everybody can do it," he said. "It's not a play that only we can run. We just have one of the best O-lines in football, and our quarterback can squat 600 pounds. That's not our problem."
His defense of the play is particularly notable, considering that it often takes potential goal-line opportunities away from him. Still, Barkley isn't bitter. Instead, he pointed out that top-tier quarterbacks like Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson have failed to execute the play as consistently, proving it's not some kind of cheat code, just a perfectly executed tactic.
A rivalry-fueled movement?
Barkley also suggested that the motivation behind the push to ban the tush push might have less to do with fairness and more with frustration. "The teams that want to get rid of it are the ones that have to play us multiple times a year," he noted. The numbers back him up: of Philadelphia's 17 opponents this season, only the Detroit Lions voted against the ban alongside the Eagles.
A play no one else can match
What makes the tush push so successful for the Eagles is a rare mix of strength, technique, and precision. With Hurts' power, the offensive line's dominance, and a system that's been fine-tuned over time, it's become almost unstoppable, and Barkley has no apologies for that.