University of Rochester students are examining the Philadelphia Eagles‘ tush push to understand why it works and how it can be made safer, writes Wakisha Bailey for CBS News Philadelphia.
Usually focused on running and jumping, the university’s biomechanics lab has been working overtime, employing high-speed cameras and pressure-mapping insoles to break down the Birds’ most talked-about short-yardage play.
Ally March, a lifelong Eagles fan from South Jersey, was overjoyed when she received the assignment.
“I did say ‘Go Birds’ on the hot mic — but they cut it out,” she joked.
She explained that the famous play can feature different formations and personnel packages.
“You often see Saquon [Barkley] back there,” she said. “He can squat upwards of 600 pounds. That’s different than his usual running back role. It changes what the biomechanics look like.”
The Eagles have turned the tush push into their signature move, leading to a league-wide debate on its safety and fairness. As more teams have started to imitate the move, researchers emphasize that evidence-based training and proper technique could reduce risk, especially for linemen and quarterbacks who repeatedly experience low-pad-level contact.
Read more about the Philadelphia Eagles’ tush push and its examination at Rochester at CBS News Philadelphia.
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Editor’s Note: This post first appeared on PHILADELPHIA Today in September 2025.
