Lane Johnson on the Tush Push: “It’s Our Rugby Scrum”

Philadelphia Eagles’ right tackle Lane Johnson just said what pretty much everyone has been thinking about the Tush Push.

In an appearance on Good Morning Football, Lane Johnson acknowledged what Australian-born teammate Jordan Mailata has long denied. The Eagles’ signature short-yardage cheat code does in fact resemble a rugby scrum.

At this point, since the NFL Deep State wasn’t able to successfully ban the play, Lane Johnson was willing to claim the rugby play proudly.

Lane Johnson on the Tush Push: “It’s Our Rugby Scrum”

.@KyleBrandt and @LaneJohnson65 obviously had to talk Tush Push😏 pic.twitter.com/lHmIfHDn10

— Good Morning Football (@gmfb) July 9, 2025

“Yes, it does favor a rugby scrum,” Johnson said. “But it’s our rugby scrum, I guess.”

Rugby Play or Not, It Really Doesn’t Matter Anymore

This offseason, the NFL tried to ban the Tush Push. They failed. Despite all the whining about optics, safety, “competitive imbalance” the league couldn’t get enough votes from owners to outlaw the play.

We know why. Grab a T-Shirt >>

If everyone could do it, they would (obviously)

The play, which the Eagles internally call something different (and no, they won’t tell you what), has been a cornerstone of their success. It helped them bulldoze their way into two of the last three Super Bowls and humiliate the so-called Chiefs “dynasty” last February.

Jalen Hurts has converted that play with ruthless efficiency, aided by the strongest interior line in football, anchored in the past by Jason Kelce, to now Landon Dickerson, Jordan Mailata, and Lane Johnson himself.

Mailata, who actually played pro rugby in Australia, has long pushed back on the rugby comparisons. But Lane? Lane is a realist. He knows what it looks like. He just doesn’t care.

“It has become a weird play. I never thought it would grow to this magnitude,” Johnson said. “I think the main thing they were worried about is player safety… but it’s our rugby scrum.”

Washington linebacker Frankie Luvu, one of the loudest voices calling for the play to be banned, was even cited by name during the interview. This is the same guy who tried to jump over the pile during the NFC Championship to stop the Tush Push. Twice.

When LB Frankie Luvu tried to disrupt the @Eagles tush push in the NFC Championship, officials warned the @Commanders that they may invoke the rarely used, but long-standing, @NFL Rule 12.3.2 on "Palpably Unfair Acts."

Learn more bout the rule: https://t.co/cxM5ZPtutG pic.twitter.com/KHS4ilHh1f

— NFL Football Operations (@NFLFootballOps) January 27, 2025

Frankie Luvu obviously got flagged both times, got lectured by the refs, and the Eagles moved the sticks anyway. So yeah, there’s no denying that he along with everyone else on the Washington Commanders, are a bunch of crybabies when it comes to the push.

Regardless, like Lane Johnson said, unless the defensive tackles and interior linemen themselves start lobbying for a ban, this play isn’t going anywhere.

Here in Philly, we’ll just sit back, let the haters cry and the owners whine. The play isn’t illegal. It’s just unstoppable.

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