Packers Lost Twice—Now They Want Tush Push Banned? Barkley Isn’t Having It

When the Philadelphia Eagles ran over the Green Bay Packers—twice—in the 2024 season, the message was clear: power football is back. But now, instead of preparing to stop it, the Packers are pushing to ban it.

At the heart of the controversy is the tush push: a short-yardage quarterback sneak perfected by the Eagles and led by Jalen Hurts, often aided by Saquon Barkley and Dallas Goedert. The play has delivered 11 touchdowns and 32 first downs in the Super Bowl-winning season alone.

Now, the Packers want it gone.

But Saquon Barkley isn’t staying quiet. In a now-viral quote from the Met Gala, he shot back: “If you don’t like it, get better at stopping it.” The tone? Unapologetic. The message? Brutal.

And fans love it.

Barkley argued that tush push isn’t exclusive to the Eagles—teams like the Bills use it too, just not as well. The success, he says, comes down to execution, strength, and timing. “We built this. You failed to stop it. So train harder.”

The proposed ban, brought up at the NFL’s March meetings, cites safety concerns. But there’s no data backing injury risk. What there is, however, is scoreboard history: Eagles 34–17. Eagles 27–14. Two Packers losses. And a whole lot of frustration.

Nick Sirianni, Eagles head coach, compared the criticism to outlawing Steph Curry’s three-pointer. “If it’s hard to defend, doesn’t mean it’s wrong,” he said. “It means you’re behind.”

Packers fans claim fairness. Eagles fans cry foul play—“They want a rulebook change because they can’t tackle low.” Barkley’s defenders point to his unfiltered honesty as part of why Philly embraces him. “He says what we all think,” one fan wrote on X.

As the NFL prepares to revisit the rule in May, Barkley’s voice will echo: “Don’t beg the league to save you—step up.”

In a sport built on toughness, his words just might become a rallying cry.