## Eagles LT Jordan Mailata Slams "Rubbish" Tush Push Narrative **News Title:** Eagles LT: Tush push chatter makes ‘blood boil’ **Report Provider:** ESPN (Brooke Pryor) **Date:** September 16, 2025, 06:29 PM ET ### Summary of Findings: Philadelphia Eagles left tackle Jordan Mailata has strongly refuted the narrative that his team's 20-17 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs in their Super Bowl rematch was primarily due to the "tush push" play. Mailata expressed significant frustration, calling the narrative "rubbish" and "incredibly disrespectful" to the contributions of the Eagles' defense and special teams. ### Key Information and Context: * **Mailata's Stance:** Mailata stated that while he understands the "outrage" surrounding the tush push, he finds it unacceptable to use it as the sole reason for the Eagles' win. He emphasized the crucial performances of the defense and special teams, who "balled out" and "had our backs" during the game. He believes that attributing the victory to a short-yardage play diminishes the hard work and impact of other units. * **Game Turning Point:** The news highlights a critical defensive play early in the fourth quarter. With the Chiefs trailing 13-10, quarterback Patrick Mahomes' pass intended for tight end Travis Kelce was intercepted by rookie safety Andrew Mukuba. Mukuba returned the interception for 41 yards, setting up a subsequent touchdown for the Eagles. * **Tush Push Usage and Impact:** * The Eagles utilized the tush push **six times** in the game, successfully gaining **four first downs** and scoring **one touchdown**. * Following the defensive turnover, Jalen Hurts scored via the tush push, extending the Eagles' lead to 10 points. * The tush push has been highly effective for the Eagles, with a **96.6% conversion rate in fourth-and-1 scenarios since 2022**. * **Controversy and League Vote:** * The tush push has faced scrutiny, with Fox analyst Tom Brady and Chiefs coach Andy Reid suggesting that Eagles offensive linemen may have been getting off the line of scrimmage before the snap, though no penalties were called. * The play was considered for a ban this offseason, but the proposal **failed by two votes**. * The final vote count was **22-10** against the proposal, which was submitted by the Green Bay Packers at the NFL's annual meeting in Eagan, Minnesota, in May. A total of **24 votes** were needed for the proposal to pass. * **Media Commentary:** Mike Greenberg and Dan Graziano are mentioned as expressing strong disdain for the tush push, with Greenberg calling it an "abomination." ### Numerical Data Interpretation: * **20-17:** The final score of the Super Bowl rematch, indicating a close game. * **13-10:** The score before the critical defensive turnover in the fourth quarter, highlighting the game's tight nature. * **41 yards:** The length of Andrew Mukuba's interception return, a significant play that shifted momentum. * **10-point lead:** The advantage the Eagles gained after Jalen Hurts' tush push touchdown, which Mailata argues was not the sole reason for the win. * **Six times:** The number of times the Eagles ran the tush push in the game. * **Four first downs:** The number of first downs gained via the tush push. * **One touchdown:** The number of touchdowns scored using the tush push. * **96.6%:** The Eagles' impressive conversion rate for the tush push in fourth-and-1 situations since 2022, demonstrating its effectiveness for the team. * **Two votes:** The margin by which the tush push ban proposal failed. * **22-10:** The final vote count against banning the tush push. * **24 votes:** The number of votes required for the tush push ban proposal to pass. ### Notable Risks or Concerns: The continued use and effectiveness of the tush push raise concerns about player safety and the integrity of the game, as evidenced by the league's consideration of a ban. The debate also highlights potential officiating challenges and differing interpretations of rules. ### Trends or Changes: The news indicates a significant trend of the tush push being a highly effective short-yardage play for the Eagles, while simultaneously being a contentious issue within the league, sparking debate and near-prohibition.
Eagles LT: Tush push chatter makes ‘blood boil’
Read original at ESPN →Jordan Mailata on chatter Eagles won because of the tush push: 'Rubbish'playGreeny calls tush push an 'abomination' (0:48)Mike Greenberg and Dan Graziano don't hold back when expressing their disdain for the tush push. (0:48)ESPNSep 16, 2025, 06:29 PM ETPhiladelphia Eagles left tackle Jordan Mailata has had enough of the media narrative that his team won Sunday's Super Bowl rematch against the Kansas City Chiefs because of the tush push.
In an interview with 94 WIP on Philadelphia on Tuesday, Mailata said that it is "incredibly disrespectful" to the impact the Eagles' defense and special teams had in the 20-17 victory at Kansas City."I understand the outrage [over the tush push]. What I don't understand is them using it as an excuse to why we won the game.
I think it's incredibly disrespectful to our defense and our special teams who balled out. And my brothers on defense and special teams who balled out that game, who had our backs when we weren't moving the ball or weren't doing anything," Mailata said."That pisses me off because we give so much to this game and to kind of base off a short-yardage play, that is a football play," Mailata added, his voice raising.
"And say that we won the game off that, but not how our defense played and not how our special teams have played, putting us in those positions. You know I think it's bullcrap."I just think it's rubbish. Absolute rubbish, man. It makes my blood boil just thinking about it."The turning point in Sunday's game came via the defense.
Early in the fourth quarter with the Chiefs trailing 13-10, tight end Travis Kelce failed to haul in Patrick Mahomes' pass near the goal line, the ball caroming off his hands and into the possession of rookie safety Andrew Mukuba, who returned it 41 yards. Jalen Hurts scored via the tush push on the ensuing possession, giving the Eagles a commanding 10-point lead.
The Eagles ran the tush push six times Sunday, gaining four first downs and scoring the touchdown. Fox analyst Tom Brady and Chiefs coach Andy Reid suggested Sunday that Eagles offensive linemen were getting off the line of scrimmage before the snap but weren't penalized.The play faced banishment this offseason, but the proposal failed by two votes.
The final vote was 22-10 on the proposal, which was submitted by the Green Bay Packers, at the NFL's annual meeting in Eagan, Minnesota, in May. The proposal needed 24 votes to pass.The Eagles have converted the play 96.6% of the time in fourth-and-1 scenarios since 2022.ESPN's Tim McManus contributed to this report.
