Steichen and Gannon Support Ban on Tush Push Despite Benefiting from It with Eagles

Colts head coach Shane Steichen and Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon, both of whom played key roles in the Philadelphia Eagles’ Super Bowl appearance during the 2022 season, have found themselves in a curious position. Despite benefiting from the infamous “tush push” play while with the Eagles — Steichen as offensive coordinator and Gannon as defensive coordinator — their current teams, Indianapolis and Arizona, voted in favor of banning it. The play, which involves pushing the quarterback from behind to gain short yardage, has been both effective and controversial.

The NFL vote revealed that 22 teams supported the move to ban pushing the runner altogether. This included Steichen’s Colts and Gannon’s Cardinals, even though the coaches’ past success was closely tied to the tactic. This contradiction drew attention, particularly from Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni, who joked that Steichen, Gannon, and Saints coach Kellen Moore owed their current positions to the play’s success. Sirianni had expected their support in defending the tush push, counting on at least four votes to keep it legal.

Former Eagles Coaches Back Ban on Play That Helped Launch Their Careers

However, things didn’t go as Sirianni had hoped. While Moore and the Saints actively voted against the proposal, Steichen and Gannon’s teams took the opposite stance. It’s unclear how much influence the two coaches had in their teams’ decisions, but it has raised questions about their sway within their organizations. Ultimately, they will be left to explain to their former boss why they couldn’t (or didn’t) block the move to eliminate the play that helped propel them to NFL head-coaching roles.

Looking ahead, the Eagles may continue to be a launching pad for future head coaches if their Super Bowl runs persist. Coordinators Kevin Patullo and Vic Fangio could be next in line for top jobs if the team remains successful. Should that happen, the debate over the tush push and its role in Philadelphia’s dominance could resurface, especially if more former Eagles staffers find themselves in positions to vote on its future.