The Eagles are celebrating their triumph after decisively defeating the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX this past Sunday, securing the franchise’s second Vince Lombardi Trophy. Two standout players from the team, quarterback Jalen Hurts and running back Saquon Barkley, appeared on “The Tonight Show” on Tuesday to discuss the monumental game.
“I’ve been trying to process everything, and when you enter that moment, you really don’t know how you’ll feel,” Hurts shared. “As a fan, you watch sports and championship games, witnessing iconic moments and how legends manage their emotions and excitement. But for me, it was all about the hard work and effort that led us here.”
The Eagles kicked off the scoring in Super Bowl LIX with Hurts executing the well-known “tush push.” Over recent seasons, the Eagles have perfected this rugby-style quarterback sneak, often referred to as the “tush push” or “brotherly shove.” However, Hurts indicated that neither term truly captures the essence of the play. “I won’t disclose what I call it, but it’s not that. Everyone has come up with their own names for it: ‘Brotherly Shove,’ ‘tush push,’ and so on. It’s not that,” he explained.
In short-yardage situations, Hurts typically positions himself under center with two or three players behind him. He takes the snap, the offensive line pushes forward, and he receives a significant push from behind, often resulting in the Eagles successfully gaining the necessary yardage for a first down.
Barkley, who joined the Eagles on a three-year contract last March, expressed surprise at learning that the play isn’t officially called the “tush push.” “I wasn’t sure what it would be called, but… it’s not actually called a ‘tush push,'” Barkley noted. Regarding his role in the play, he added, “I think I have the easiest job, to be honest. I’m the one who pushes the tush…”
Hurts concluded the Super Bowl with 221 passing yards and two touchdowns. While Barkley was somewhat limited during the game with 57 rushing yards, he played a crucial role in the Eagles’ success throughout the season, rushing for a career-high 2,005 yards during the regular season and adding 499 rushing yards in the playoffs.
