The controversial “Tush Push” has been a key play for the Philadelphia Eagles in recent years. The play, orchestrated by Jalen Hurts, has an astounding 81% conversion rate on short-yardage situations. If the NFL bans the controversial play in 2025, the biggest beneficiary might not be the league’s defenses. Instead, it could be the leader of the Eagles backfield, Saquon Barkley. Not only will the Tush Push ban increase Barkley’s usage, but it will also boost his odds of winning his first NFL MVP award.
The Tush Push made its way into the Philadelphia Eagles playbook way back in Week 1 of the 2022 season against the Detroit Lions. Since then, it has consistently taken away red-zone opportunities from Eagles running backs, including Barkley, who still led the league with 378 red-zone touches in 2024. Jalen Hurts appreciates the play, as he racked up 14 total rushing touchdowns in 2024. In his five-year career, he’s put up a staggering total of 52 rushing touchdowns.
Driving further into the statistics, a whopping 30 of Hurts’ career 52 rushing scores have come from one yard or less. Many of them are thanks to the near-unstoppable Tush Push. Even with the play diminishing his goal-line opportunities, Barkley still finished the 2024 season with 13 rushing touchdowns and over 2,000 rushing yards. But, the potential 2025 ban could indicate another monster year with even more touches for the Eagles’ lead back.
If the play is banned, Barkley benefits from the defensive focus on stopping the Tush Push. Teams have prioritized shutting down the play rather than containing Barkley. Some defenses even signed heavier defensive linemen and shifted their approach in hopes of stopping the Eagles’ signature play. If the NFL removes the Tush Push from the game, all of that preparation becomes useless.
Without the play, defenses will shift their focus from Hurts and the QB sneak. Instead, they must figure out how to stop one of the league’s most explosive running backs in key situations. Barkley’s combination of power, agility, and vision, makes him far more dangerous than a one-yard quarterback plunge. If the Eagles move to a traditional goal-line offense, defenses will need a new strategy to stop Barkley. Adjusting to his power and agility won’t be an easy task for any team.
Despite his dominance last season, Barkley placed third in MVP voting, behind Lamar Jackson and the 2024 MVP Josh Allen. With the Tush Push potentially off the table in 2025, the Eagles will have to rely more on their star running back in short-yardage situations. This will most likely lead to an increase in his goal line opportunities and touchdown numbers.
Vegas oddsmakers have set Barkley’s 2025 rushing touchdown line at 10.5. If the Tush Push is banned and the ball is out of Hurts’ hands, that number seems comically low. With a rise in goal-line carries, Barkley could easily surpass the 13 touchdowns he posted in 2024 and make an even stronger case for MVP in 2025.
A quarterback has won the NFL MVP award in 11 straight seasons, but Barkley could be the one to break that streak in 2025. If the Tush Push is banned next year, his increased workload in the red zone could be the final piece of the puzzle to earn him his first MVP trophy. NFL teams that are pushing to ban the near-unstoppable play might want to reconsider because they could soon be facing an even greater challenge: stopping Saquon Barkley.
End Of My Tush Push Rant.
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