“Totally legal”: Rob Gronkowski defends Tush Push, compares it to Tom Brady’s QB sneak

NFL icon Rob Gronkowski has given a firm and funny endorsement of the controversial “Tush Push,” calling it a smart, legal play that’s here to stay. While critics debate its fairness, Gronk says it's no different from Tom Brady’s legendary quarterback sneak.

Global buzz and Eagles’ powerplay

On the Games with Names podcast, Rob Gronkowski shared how the Tush Push has even gone global. “I was hired by a Brazilian company… they all knew football to a T. And they go, ‘What do you think about the Tush Push?’” he recalled. His punchline? “I said, ‘If the Tush Push got banned, Brazil will go bankrupt.’ You get it?”He added with a laugh, “The Tush Push is in Brazil. We need that Tush Push to survive. Jewels, we need that Tush to always be there in Brazil.”Known for power and precision, the Tush Push has been a cornerstone of the Philadelphia Eagles’ short-yardage success. Jalen Hurts, backed by one of the NFL’s heaviest offensive lines, has turned it into a near-unstoppable weapon.“You’ve got some phenomenal O-line athletes at the Eagles, one of the heaviest in the league… You’ve then got Jalen Hurts, who is pound-for-pound one of the strongest quarterbacks in the league, so the play is completely made for his body type,” explained Richie Gray, consultant to the team.

Here to stay, even as defenses catch on

Despite ongoing complaints from some teams and fans, Rob Gronkowski defended the play’s legitimacy, “The game of football is… the goal is to come up with a situation to move the ball forward. And the Tush Push is totally legal. That’s what you’re supposed to do.”Julian Edelman acknowledged that the play may not dominate forever, “All the DCs are studying the Tush Push to figure out what they need to do to stop it. Eventually they’ll figure it out, and then it won’t even be a thing anymore.”

To that, Gronk replied, “It’ll be like the QB sneak. They didn’t stop Tom Brady from doing QB sneaks. He’s got like over 1,000 rushing yards; I think every single one of them was off QB sneaking.”Also read: “I love that”: Tom Brady praises Caitlin Clark–Angel Reese rivalry, unveils Mount Rushmore of sports iconsFor now, Gronkowski’s backing shows the Tush Push is here to stay, much like Brady’s QB sneak. Whether defenses adapt or not, this play remains a key part of modern NFL strategy.