Chiefs’ Chris Jones consulted rugby player for tips on stopping Eagles’ ‘Tush Push’
The NFL is a copycat league, but teams are having a difficult time replicating the Eagles’ very successful short-yardage play.
Philadelphia’s twist on the quarterback sneak is called “Brotherly Shove” by the Eagles, but some have dubbed it the “Tush Push.”
During the Chiefs’ 38-35 win in Super Bowl LVII, the Eagles used the play multiple times and quarterback Jalen Hurts scored two touchdowns on it.
Defensive tackle Chris Jones was on Thursday’s episode of “The Rich Eisen Show” and said he’s confident the Chiefs can stop the “Brotherly Shove” during Monday’s game against the Eagles.
The reason for Jones’ faith? He spoke with someone in another sport who gave him some tips.
“We got a plan for it,” Jones said. “We’re gonna watch a few rugby games and I got a rugby friend. I can’t disclose his name, but I got a rugby friend who has been telling me a few little pointers on what I can do to stop this.”
Jones, who often lines up in the middle of the Chiefs’ defensive front, knows he could be called upon to help stop the quarterback sneak.
“The only people who have stopped it was a few games back Washington (Commanders) when it was in the red zone and (Jalen) ended up fumbling the ball,” Jones said. “So that’s the only time it’s actually been stop stopped. But I reached out to a couple of rugby guys and we got some little pointers on small detailed things that we can do to affect that play.”
Eisen noted that some shenanigans can take place in a rugby scrum, things that aren’t legal in an NFL game. That’s not what Jones was talking about, right?
Jones raised his hands and smiled slyly before responding: “I can’t say.”
Chiefs’ secret weapon
The Chiefs have the top-ranked scoring defense in the NFL, and Eisen asked what makes defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo so good, especially this season.
Jones credited Spagnuolo’s wife. Seriously.
“The main difference what people don’t know is Spags’ wife moved to Kansas City and that changed the whole game for us,” Jones said. “She hadn’t been living in Kansas City and this is her first year living in Kansas City.”
How exactly has that helped?
“He’s happier. He has his family here. He has his wife here,” Jones said. “You know, when you have your significant other around you it just makes you a better person, honestly, and I think that’s what she has done for him and has done for us.”
You can listen to the conversation here.
This story was originally published November 17, 2023 at 8:48 AM.
