Pennsylvania Gov Josh Shapiro defends Eagles controversial tush push
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In the NFL’s most controversial game, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, an avid Philadelphia Eagles fan, joins the conversation.
The Eagles’ egregious rough play, in which quarterback Jalen Hurts was pushed across the line for a gain or over the goal line for a touchdown, came under heavy criticism midway through the 2025 NFL season. It proved difficult to manage the game properly as Philadelphia again got off to a strong start.
A vote was taken last summer on whether to ban this edition after the Green Bay Packers submitted a formal proposal. The vote failed and the Eagles and every other team in the NFL were allowed to play the game this season.
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Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) throws a hard-hit touchdown during the game between the San Francisco 49ers and the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on December 3, 2023. (Icon Sportswire via Andy Lewis/Getty Images)
There was once again talk that the owners should reconsider the vote, but Shapiro loves the way the game is working for his team. He wants him to stay.
“Absolutely not!” he said Puck’s Peter Hamby When asked if the game should be banned. “And by the way, it’s complete nonsense that other teams that can’t guard Jalen Hurts – who don’t have the offensive line that the Eagles have built under the incredible leadership of Howie Roseman – now want to ban that. I mean, it’s ridiculous.”
“If they want to be successful, maybe they should go out and draft a great quarterback like Jalen Hurts?”
EAGLES’ MAJOR JASON KELCE SAYS THE DIFFICULTY OF MANAGING THE TUSH PRESS ‘COULD RESULT IN IT GETTING BANNED’
Despite winning the Super Bowl last season and earning the Super Bowl MVP award, Hurts has often been left out of elite quarterback conversations that also include Patrick Mahomes, Lamar Jackson and others.
Shapiro said he was tired of the disrespect.
“Frankly, I’m also sick and tired of Jalen Hurts not getting the respect he deserves. I think he deserves respect. The Birds deserve respect, and taking action to ban pushing is just an excuse for not having a good enough team to do it,” he said.
Eagles legend Jason Kelce, who played a pivotal role in making this offense so successful, recently admitted that if the play was difficult to run, “that might be a reason to ban it.”
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) appears to fumble the ball while running the Tush Push play during the game between the New York Giants and the Philadelphia Eagles. The game was played on October 26, 2025 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Terence Lewis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
“I know there’s a lot of false starts and a lot of noise around this game, and I understand that,” he said. New Peaks podcast. “If printing is difficult to achieve, that would certainly be a reason to ban it.”
Kelce’s comments came after the Eagles beat the New York Giants, when he made perhaps the most controversial move of the season. Giants edge rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux snatched the ball from Hurts’ hands as he tried to extend his arms for a first down. Hurts was still playing and it looked like a fumble to onlookers.
But officials ruled the game dead in terms of forward progress, saying Hurts was already over the first lead line. Giants head coach Brian Daboll was furious, and many in the football world agreed. The consensus was that this should be called a fiasco, and even Kelce agreed.
“It’s a mess, they missed it,” he said.
At the same time, Kelce defended the play regardless of how it was officiated.
“I know everyone wants to rush again. Again, I don’t see how this has anything to do with rushing. Officials always miss calls for forward progress,” he said. “I’m not trying to make excuses; I just don’t know how those little things relate to pushing. Like, the Eagles’ quarterback sneak will still be an issue — that’s my only caveat on that.”
Governor Josh Shapiro speaks at the Freedom Celebration Ceremony during the Wawa America Welcome on July 4, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Gilbert Carrasquillo/GC Images)
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That pressure will continue for the rest of the season, and Eagles fans like Shapiro will love every time Hurts is pushed forward for the extra yard.
Whether the players, coaches or fans like it or not, the hope is that the officials will get it right.
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