Philadelphia Eagles veteran Brandon Graham has weighed in on one of the NFL's most polarizing topics: whether the league should ban the “tush push”—the signature short-yardage play that’s become a staple of the Eagles’ offense.
As NFL owners prepare to vote in May on a proposal that could eliminate or alter the controversial tactic, Graham made it clear he believes the game should be allowed to evolve naturally. His message to the rest of the league? Find a way to stop it.
“They gonna figure out something,” Graham said during a recent interview. “This league is very, very smart, and they always find you. That’s one thing I respect about this league. If you get an offseason on the guy that killed it one year, you better make sure you stay consistent. Because they [are] coming for you this year.”
The Eagles’ version of the play—featuring Jalen Hurts getting a powerful push from behind by teammates on quarterback sneaks—has been nearly unstoppable in short-yardage situations. But its success has drawn increasing scrutiny, with critics labeling it as “unfair” or “unfootball-like,” and sparking discussions about whether it should remain legal.
While Graham, a defensive end, doesn’t face the play in live game action, he said he’d embrace the challenge if it came from another team. “If another team was doing it, I would be challenged to be like, ‘Hey man, we gonna be the one to stop that,’” he added.
Rather than advocating for a rule change, Graham sees a potential ban as sidestepping the work needed to adjust. “Sounds like the easy way out,” he said, framing the debate as a test of adaptation rather than regulation.
Currently, teams remain divided on the issue. According to reports, the vote stands at 16-18 in favor of changing the rule—eight short of the 24 votes required to pass. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell is expected to continue lobbying owners ahead of the decisive meeting in May.
The proposed rule change stems from concerns about both player safety and the play’s effectiveness, though no definitive injury data has been presented linking the tush push to increased risk.
The Eagles have made the play part of their identity, using it to convert crucial downs and fuel their physical offensive approach. If the owners move to ban or restrict it, Philadelphia may be forced to find new ways to assert their dominance in short-yardage situations. But for Graham and the rest of the team, the message is clear: instead of rewriting the rulebook, let the rest of the league figure it out on the field.
