'Try And Stop It!' Bucs Coach Todd Bowles Opens Up About 'Tush Push'

The quarterback sneak has been a play teams have used for decades as a shortcut to gain a yard or two when needed.

But every once in a while, a team comes by and innovates an old play and perfects it. And that's where we are with the so-called "tush push" and the Philadelphia Eagles.

Because they can't stop it, some teams are leading the charge to ban it. But Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles - who also serves as the team's defensive coordinator - doesn't think that's a good reason to ban the play.

"The safety of it's always going to be a question because it's a rugby style of play, but I have nothing against it. You found guys that are being creative and found the niche and how to gain an edge in this league, and that is what we as coaches try and do on a daily basis," Bowles said on Pro Football Talk from the NFL Scouting Combine. "So now it's up to defensive coaches to try and gain an edge to try and stop it, so that's the challenge of it every time somebody brings something new, whether it's offense or defense, so I'm all for it that way. 

"Again, nobody's been seriously hurt at this time but you got to figure out how to stop it if you're going to stop it."

Bowles is absolutely right. 

Just because you can't stop a play isn't a good reason to ban it, but the potential for injuries is. And that's where we're approaching with the play now.

Just ask the Houston Texans, who lost star wideout Tank Dell for the year midseason in 2023 as they attempted a tush push on the goalline. Dell fractured his leg while blocking on the play.

If we see many more situations like that, the play should be considered to be illegal. But we'll see. Until then, the Eagles will continue to dare teams to stop it.