quarterback sneak
{{short description|Gridiron football play}}
File:1952 Sugar Bowl Scarbath sneak.jpg quarterback Jack Scarbath tallies the first score in the 1952 Sugar Bowl on a successful quarterback sneak.]]
A quarterback sneak is a play in gridiron football in which the quarterback, upon taking the center snap, runs forward or dives ahead while the offensive line is also surging forward. Despite the "sneak" moniker, this version of a quarterback draw play is often expected in situations where a very short gain is needed.
The play is often desired in short-yardage situations in the National Football League (NFL), since there are no further ball exchanges beyond the center snap. The quarterback receives the ball near the line of scrimmage and immediately moves forward, giving the defense little time to react and making it less likely that significant yardage will be lost on the play. Although the play rarely gains more than one or two yards, it can result in a significant gain. One notable exception was Greg Landry gaining 76 yards in 1970 on a quarterback sneak against Green Bay, which set an NFL record at the time for the longest rush by a quarterback.{{cite web |last1=Pignatello |first1=Connor |title=UMass football legend Greg Landry remembered |url=https://www.gazettenet.com/Greg-Landry-UMass-football-quarterback-great-dies-at-77-57433296 |website=Daily Hampshire Gazette |access-date=February 27, 2025 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250227112727/https://www.gazettenet.com/Greg-Landry-UMass-football-quarterback-great-dies-at-77-57433296 |archive-date=February 27, 2025 |date=October 11, 2024 |url-status=live}} The origins of the sneak play date back to 1912, where standout Yale quarterback Graham Winkelbaum first used it in a game against rival Harvard.{{cn|date=February 2025}}
Quarterback sneaks are statistically the most likely plays to convert short yardage situations, though each situation varies.{{cite web|last=Burke|first=Brian|title=QB Sneak vs RB Dive|url=http://www.advancednflstats.com/2011/11/qb-sneak-vs-rb-dive.html|work=Advanced NFL Stats|access-date=25 November 2013}}{{cite web|last=Tanier|first=Mike|title=4th and Go For It?|url=http://www.sportsonearth.com/article/62665328|work=Sports on Earth|access-date=25 November 2013}} Many football statistics sites advocate for increased usage of the play.{{cite web|last=Kacsmar|first=Scott|title=The Most Unstoppable Play in the NFL|url=http://www.footballoutsiders.com/extra-points/2013/si-most-unstoppable-play-nfl|work=Football Outsiders|publisher=Sports Illustrated|access-date=25 November 2013}}
QB sneaks have drawbacks in that they tend to expose the quarterback to hits from opposing defenders. Often quarterbacks do not wish to expose themselves to the increased risk of injury associated with the play. This is especially prevalent with traditional pocket passing quarterbacks, such as Drew Brees or Tom Brady,{{citation needed|date=December 2021}} although Brady was very effective at running the play.{{Cite web |title=Tom Brady — Master of the QB Sneak |url=https://operations.nfl.com/gameday/analytics/stats-articles/tom-brady-master-of-the-qb-sneak/ |access-date=2022-01-04 |website=NFL Football Operations|date=24 September 2020 }}{{Cite web |last=Howe |first=Jeff |date=2015-11-05 |title=Why is Tom Brady so wildly good at the QB sneak? |url=https://www.bostonherald.com/2015/11/05/why-is-tom-brady-so-wildly-good-at-the-qb-sneak/ |access-date=2022-01-04 |website=Boston Herald |language=en-US}} One of the most famous sneaks in football history was executed by Green Bay Packers quarterback Bart Starr against the Dallas Cowboys in the famous "Ice Bowl" NFL championship game played on December 31, 1967.{{citation needed|date=December 2021}}
Tush Push
File:Jalen Hurts WFT @ PHI 2021 (cropped).jpg has been involved in the team's successful Tush Push play since 2022. ]]
Since 2022, the Philadelphia Eagles have run a highly-successful version of the quarterback sneak involving two players that push quarterback Jalen Hurts across the line of scrimmage as the offensive line simultaneously drive forward. The controversial play became widely known as the "Tush Push",{{Cite magazine |last=Thomas |first=Louisa |date=2023-10-28 |title=The N.F.L.'s Rear Guard Is Angry About the "Tush Push" |language=en-US |magazine=The New Yorker |url=https://www.newyorker.com/sports/sporting-scene/the-nfls-rear-guard-is-angry-about-the-tush-push |access-date=November 4, 2023|issn=0028-792X}} as well as the "Brotherly Shove", which is a play on the "City of Brotherly Love" nickname for Philadelphia.{{cite web |last1=Schlachter |first1=Thomas |title=The 'Brotherly Shove': Why in vogue 'Tush Push' has become unstoppable play in the NFL |url=https://www.cnn.com/2024/01/15/sport/philadelphia-eagles-brotherly-shove-tush-push-nfl-spt-intl/index.html |website=CNN |access-date=February 27, 2025 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250227101846/https://www.cnn.com/2024/01/15/sport/philadelphia-eagles-brotherly-shove-tush-push-nfl-spt-intl/index.html |archive-date=February 27, 2025 |date=January 15, 2024 |url-status=live}}
The pushing from behind has often been compared to several different rugby union forms of gameplay, such as the scrum, driving maul,{{cite web|url=https://www.skysports.com/nfl/news/12118/13008923/richie-gray-meet-jason-kelce-and-the-philadelphia-eagles-scottish-tush-push-guru |title=Richie Gray: Meet Jason Kelce and the Philadelphia Eagles Scottish tush push guru |first=Cameron |last=Hogwood |publisher=Sky Sports |date=November 16, 2023}} and pick-and-go.{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/4095518/2023/01/17/nfl-assisting-the-runner-qb-sneak-jalen-hurts-eagles/ |date=January 17, 2023 |title=The tush push: How the Eagles and Jalen Hurts shoved their way to the top of the NFC |last=Kahler |first=Kalyn |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250224225742/https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/4095518/2023/01/17/nfl-assisting-the-runner-qb-sneak-jalen-hurts-eagles/ |archive-date=February 24, 2025 |url-status=live}} During the 2022 season, the Eagles converted 29 of 32 attempts for a first down – a success rate of over 90%.{{Cite web |last=Tolentino |first=Josh |title=Could complaints lead the NFL to outlaw the Eagles' QB sneak 'tush push' tactic? |url=https://www.inquirer.com/eagles/eagles-jalen-hurts-qb-sneak-nfl-rule-change-20230304.html |access-date=2023-04-28 |website=www.inquirer.com |date=4 March 2023 |language=en}} Part of the Eagles' success in running the play is attributed to the team's personnel. The 2024 Philadelphia Eagles had one of the largest offensive lines in the league, including right tackle Lane Johnson (6-6, 325 pounds), left tackle Jordan Mailata (6-8, 365 pounds), and left guard Landon Dickerson (6-6, 332 pounds).{{cite web |last=McManus|first=Tim |date=September 16, 2025 |title=Big brother Kelce looms over Eagles' tush push success |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/41234531/philadelphia-eagles-tush-push-jason-kelce |access-date=March 3, 2025 |website=ESPN }} When the Eagles ran the play, Hurts, a former powerlifter who could squat 600 pounds, was designed to run behind the combined 697 pounds of Mailata and Dickerson, along with center Cam Jurgens, who weighed 303 pounds.{{cite web |last=Kerr |first=Jeff |date=February 9, 2025 |title=What is the Tush Push? How Eagles execute the play and why they run it so well |url=https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/what-is-the-tush-push-how-eagles-execute-the-play-and-why-they-run-it-so-well/ |access-date=March 3, 2025 |website=CBSSports }} Hurts and the Eagles scored the first touchdowns of Super Bowl LVII and Super Bowl LIX using the play.{{cite news |last=Green |first=Austin |date=9 February 2025 |title=Super Bowl LVII rewind: Eagles strike first |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/live-blogs/chiefs-vs-eagles-live-updates-super-bowl-score-result/64HSxCskWoem/ZqzqzxwK7g7w/ |work= The Athletic |location= |publisher= The New York Times|access-date=April 10, 2025}}
Between 2022 and 2024, the Eagles and the Buffalo Bills executed the play 163 times. Both teams either scored a touchdown or achieved a first down 87% of the time, while the rest of the NFL has only been successful on 71% of attempts. Other NFL teams, as well as college football teams, have also adapted some form of the Tush Push.{{Cite magazine |last=Johnson |first=Richard |date=October 5, 2023 |title=College Football Has Adopted the Eagles' Tush Push |url=https://www.si.com/college/2023/10/05/college-football-adopted-philadelphia-eagles-tush-push |access-date=2023-11-04 |magazine=Sports Illustrated |language=en-us |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231006113908/https://www.si.com/college/2023/10/05/college-football-adopted-philadelphia-eagles-tush-push |archive-date=October 6, 2023 |url-status=dead}}
= Criticism and attempts to ban the play =
Some NFL teams have lobbied to ban the Tush Push outright, citing safety concerns and the "assisting the runner" penalty. The tactic takes advantage of an NFL rule that was modified in 2005 to allow players to assist the ball carrier in the form of pushing, which was previously banned, although "pulling" and "carrying" are still prohibited.{{cite web |last1=Robinson |first1=Doug |title=Making sense of this NFL rule is a heavy load |url=https://www.deseret.com/2023/1/20/23563232/nfl-rule-that-allows-players-to-push-ball-carriers-forward-went-wrong-direction/ |website=Deseret News |access-date=February 27, 2025 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250227104716/https://www.deseret.com/2023/1/20/23563232/nfl-rule-that-allows-players-to-push-ball-carriers-forward-went-wrong-direction/ |archive-date=February 27, 2025 |date=January 20, 2023 |url-status=live}} In 2022, NFL's officiating department issued a clarification regarding whether the play should be penalized: "This is not a foul, because what he is doing is pushing the runner. Players are allowed to push, but they are not allowed to encircle and pull to assist the runner." In 2023, NFL investigated the potential injury risk of the play and concluded "nothing notable" was found, although NFL commissioner Roger Goodell stated there were other aspects about the play to consider.{{cite web |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10101085-nfls-roger-goodell-says-i-havent-taken-a-position-on-tush-push-despite-rumors |website=Bleacher Report |date=December 14, 2023 |title=NFL's Roger Goodell Says 'I Haven't Taken a Position' on 'Tush Push' Despite Rumors |last=Rapp |first=Timothy}}
In February 2025, the Green Bay Packers submitted a proposal to the NFL’s competition committee to ban the Tush Push and the play will be a topic of discussion at the Annual League Meeting in March.{{cite web |url=https://www.nfl.com/news/unnamed-nfl-team-proposes-rule-to-ban-tush-push-play-popularized-by-eagles |date=February 25, 2025 |title=Packers propose rule to ban 'Tush Push' play popularized by Eagles |website=nfl.com |last=Shook |first=Nick}} Despite his team's usage of the play, Bills' head coach Sean McDermott would state that it is "potentially contrary to the health and safety of the players".{{cite web |date=February 24, 2025 |title=Packers submitted proposal to ban tush push, GM confirms |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/43999371/unidentified-nfl-team-submits-proposal-ban-tush-push |access-date=February 25, 2025 |website=ESPN }} Jason Kelce, an Eagles center who retired after the 2023 season, acknowledged it is a "grueling play" but added that football is "a sport that comes down to physicality".{{cite web |url=https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/jason-kelce-tush-push-sucks-for-the-center-but-is-a-difference-maker-for-the-eagles |title=Jason Kelce: Tush push sucks for the center, but is a difference-maker for the Eagles |website=NBC Sports |date=February 22, 2025 |last=Smith |first=Michael David}} Other teams have opposed banning, as some have begun experimenting with the play themselves.{{Cite web |title=Why NFL won't make rule change on QB sneak push: At least nine teams solidly against banning it, per report |url=https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/why-nfl-wont-make-rule-change-on-qb-sneak-push-at-least-nine-teams-solidly-against-banning-it-per-report/ |access-date=2023-04-28 |website=CBSSports.com |date=27 March 2023 |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=The Eagles' deadliest weapon is officially under attack |url=https://www.nbcsports.com/philadelphia/eagles/nfl-rumors-could-eagles-most-effective-play-get-outlawed |access-date=April 28, 2023 |website=RSN |date=27 February 2023 |language=en}} On February 26, NFL executive Troy Vincent said no injury was suffered on a Tush Push play in 2024, per the league's internal data.{{cite web |url=https://www.si.com/nfl/no-players-injured-tush-push-plays-2024-nfl-data |title=No Players Were Injured in Tush Push Plays in 2024, NFL Data Shows |last=McKeone |first=Liam |date=February 26, 2025 |access-date=March 3, 2025 |website=Sports Illustrated}} On April 1, 2025, the league declined to hold a formal vote on the Packers' proposed ban after an informal poll showed the teams to be evenly divided on the issue, short of the 3/4 majority that would have been needed to implement the ban.{{cite news |author=Dianna Russini, Mike Jones, Jayna Bardahl and RJ Kraft |date= 1 April 2025|title=NFL teams table vote to ban ‘tush push’ at annual league meeting |url= https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6245224/2025/04/01/nfl-tush-push-vote-tabled/|work= The Athletic |location= |publisher= The New York Times|access-date=}}
A second attempt to ban the play was submitted, also by the Packers on May 21, 2025, during the league's annual spring meetings. It failed by two votes, receiving 22 votes instead of the 24 needed to ban the play. Ten teams that voted against the banning the play were: Philadelphia Eagles, Baltimore Ravens, Cleveland Browns, Detroit Lions, Jacksonville Jaguars, Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots, New Orleans Saints, New York Jets and Tennessee Titans.{{cite news |title=Tush push lives: Proposal to ban play in NFL fails |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/45252032/proposal-ban-tush-push-nfl-fails-two-votes-sources-say |access-date=21 May 2025 |work=ESPN.com |date=21 May 2025 |language=en}}