Slang dictionary

tush push

Brotherly Shove [ tuhsh poosh ]

What is a tush push?

The tush push is a play in American football in which the quarterback receives the ball and is immediately pushed from behind by other players.

The tush push, also known as the Brotherly Shove, is a new variation of an older football play known as a quarterback sneak. In the quarterback sneak, the quarterback receives the ball and immediately surges forward by themself to gain any yards they can. In the tush push, the quarterback is pushed forward by other players positioned behind them.

The popularity of the name tush push for this play and the popularity of the play itself are linked to the 2022 Philadelphia Eagles. The Eagles performed the play 46 times during the 2022 season and had a 92 percent success rate (the rate at which the play resulted in a first down or a touchdown). The play was often said to be unstoppable largely due to the skill of the Eagles’ offensive linemen, especially center Jason Kelce, and the strength of quarterback Jalen Hurts. The Eagles reached the Super Bowl in 2022, helped by the frequent success of the tush push. The play was so effective that it was rumored that the NFL would ban it following the 2022 season.

The Eagles’ frequent and successful use of the play led to sports media using the term tush push and other nicknames to refer to it. After the 2022 season, many other NFL teams and some collegiate football teams would also use the tush push as part of their strategy.

Where does tush push come from?

football game

The name tush push refers to what happens in the football play. The quarterback is pushed from behind (the “tush”) by their teammates. The other common name for the play, Brotherly Shove, emerged from its close association with the Philadelphia Eagles, because the city of Philadelphia’s nickname is the City of Brotherly Love.

One of the earliest uses of the name tush push was in a January 2023 article by The Athletic that discussed how the Eagles effectively used the play to be successful. The name was used soon after by commentator Tony Romo when describing a quarterback sneak during a football game between the Buffalo Bills and Cincinnati Bengals. Romo’s usage of the phrase tush push drew attention during the game, with many making fun of Romo for using it.

The Eagles made it to the Super Bowl in February 2023, due in large part to the success of the tush push. The successful use of the play by the Eagles led the name tush push to appear frequently in sports media during 2023, further spreading awareness.

Examples of tush push

Tush push time again. Miami will pretend like it's a new play and be baffled by it.
@BrettRasdall, January 7, 2024
To understand the Tush Push, start with the league’s most valuable backside. Jalen Hurts’s lower half isn’t like most lower halves. His legs extend from his midsection like sequoias that are the envy of their forest, fortified by a lifetime in sports and his high school hobby of powerlifting.
Greg Bishop, Sports Illustrated, December 22, 2023

Who uses tush push?

The phrase tush push is most often used by football fans. The play is often criticized because of its frequent usage and difficulty to stop.

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Note

This is not meant to be a formal definition of tush push like most terms we define on Dictionary.com, but is rather an informal word summary that hopefully touches upon the key aspects of the meaning and usage of tush push that will help our users expand their word mastery.

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