Steelers are on the wrong side of history after a failed attempt at removing one of the more controversial plays in recent memory
The Pittsburgh Steelers are supposed to be one of the more traditional, hard-nosed, and physical teams in the league. Look no further than their 2025 draft class, where they emphasized getting back to the Steelers' way on defense. Yet, when it came time to vote on the "tush push" on Wednesday, Art Rooney and the […]
The Pittsburgh Steelers are supposed to be one of the more traditional, hard-nosed, and physical teams in the league.
Look no further than their 2025 draft class, where they emphasized getting back to the Steelers' way on defense.
Yet, when it came time to vote on the "tush push" on Wednesday, Art Rooney and the Steelers reps were on the wrong side of the vote, and it didn't matter…
Steelers attempt to ban "tush push" falls flat
"I don't think it's the end of the world that it's not banned," Steelers owner and team president Art Rooney II told Brooke Pryor of ESPN at the owners meetings in Minnesota. "I was for it [the ban], but even if we passed the ban, we're still going to have quarterback sneaks in the game. I think more was made out of it than it was. Really, it wasn't as big a deal as we made out of it."
Seems like a bit of wavering from Rooney, given his response after the fact, but the real issue here, is that a team who is supposed to be known for winning on brawn and brute strength, was against a play that features exactly that.
There is no sufficient injury data that suggests the play is going to hurt players. Some argue that it's not a football play, comparing it to that of a rugby scrum. Well, if it was so effective, so unstoppable, then why do only the Philadelphia Eagles and Buffalo Bills run it with so much success?
Because the Steelers for instance, had an interior offensive line, that, outside of Zach Frazier, isn't built for the play. Because they employed a starting quarterback via Russell Wilson, who is under 6 feet tall and doesn't squat 600 pounds like Jalen Hurts or run a 4.7 at close to 250 pounds like Josh Allen.
To me, this was the Steelers and 22 other teams simply saying the Eagles were too good at the play and they want it taken out. I can see their gripe. But this is football. No matter how much it evolves and how much teams and players adapt, the more physical team always wins, and the low man always wins.
It just so happens the Eagles win at both, nearly every time.
