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),[1] 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 often 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.[2] 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.[citation needed]
Quarterback sneaks are statistically the most likely plays to convert short yardage situations, though each situation varies.[1][3] Many football statistics sites advocate for increased usage of the play.[1][3][4]
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] although Brady was very effective at running the play.[5][6] 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]
Brotherly Shove
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.[7] The controversial play became widely known as the "Tush Push",[8] as well as the "Brotherly Shove", which is a play on the "City of Brotherly Love" nickname for Philadelphia.[9]
The pushing from behind has often been compared to several different rugby union forms of gameplay, such as the scrum, driving maul,[10] and pick-and-go.[7] During the 2022 season, the Eagles converted 29 of 32 attempts for a first down – a success rate of over 90%.[11] 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).[12] 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.[13] Hurts and the Eagles scored the first touchdown of Super Bowl LIX using the play.[14]
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.[14] Other NFL teams, as well as college football teams, have also adapted some form of the Tush Push.[15]
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.[16] 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."[7] 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.[17]
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.[18] Despite his team's usage of the legal tactic, Bills' head coach Sean McDermott would state that it is "potentially contrary to the health and safety of the players".[14] 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".[19] Other teams have opposed banning, as some have begun experimenting with the play themselves.[20][21] 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.[22]
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