Chris Simms was rightfully blasted for suggesting NFL defenders should headhunt Jalen Hurts
The Philadelphia Eagles “tush push” has turned into one of the most controversial play calls in some time, to the point where it’s already getting a new moniker in the “Brotherly Shove” because of how well Philly runs it.
If you’re not familiar with the play, it’s the Eagles’ signature goal-line quarterback sneak where Jalen Hurts lunges forward for the touchdown while a Philadelphia blocker gives him a shove in the back to ensure the forward momentum.
Hence, the “tush push” or “Brotherly Shove,” or whatever nickname suits your fancy.
As you can see below, the team ran it successfully against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday Night Football this week on 4th-and-goal.
Eagles covert on 4th & goal as Jalen Hurts gets in for the touchdown! pic.twitter.com/lhFgzUOp9I
— Oh no he didn't (@ohnohedidnt24) September 26, 2023
Well, NBC Sports’ Chris Simms, no stranger to controversy, chimed in from the side of the aisle who do not feel that the unique quarterback sneak should be legal because of the alleged advantage that the runner gets with a favorable block in the back.
Simms went as far on-air to suggest that opposing teams should try to, metaphorically speaking, “kill the quarterback” to stop the “tush push.”
“If I was a defensive coach, I’d be going, ‘Go headhunting on the quarterback here. Go ahead. Let ’em have it. Dive over. Go crazy. Try to kill the quarterback.’ That’s what I would do,” Simms said.
He quickly pulled back on his rhetoric (amid backtracking from co-host Mike Florio) by saying he didn’t actually mean they should literally kill the quarterback on a “tush push,” as opposed to “[making] him pay” and “think twice about doing it.”
But still… what on Earth, dude?
Geez, Chris Simms talking about how defenses should approach stopping the tush push
“I'd be going – go headhunting on the QB here…Go crazy, try to kill the OB.”
(H/T: @JTuc9) pic.twitter.com/i2qD545tjW
— JPAFootball (@jasrifootball) September 27, 2023
Metaphor or not, it’s still a ridiculously ugly look for Simms to advocate for anyone to specifically target another player because how they try to score a touchdown.
If you want to stop the “tush push,” maybe scheme up a way to stop it like a normal NFL defensive coordinator would instead of trying to put the quarterback on injured reserve for goodness sake.
NFL fans rightfully let Simms have it for this absurd take.