Inside the Tush Push Showdown: How Shane Steichen and Jonathan Gannon Are Defying Nick Sirianni’s Playbook

There’s something irresistibly ironic about Shane Steichen and Jonathan Gannon — both fresh off the Eagles’ controversial, tush-push-inspired Super Bowl run — now standing on the sidelines as head coaches, only to see their own teams back measures that try to erase the very play that helped define their climb. Indianapolis and Arizona, representing 22 teams who voted to ban pushing the runner altogether, have put these two former Philly coordinators in a curious position. You see, Steichen and Gannon’s stories are tangled up in that single, divisive maneuver, but despite their ties, neither appeared able to sway their teams’ votes. And then there’s that sly grin from Nick Sirianni earlier this year, half-joking but entirely loaded, expecting votes from his former lieutenants. It’s a tangled web of allegiance, strategy, and maybe a pinch of professional politics — and as the league eyes another push to quash that play next season, the Eagles’ coaching tree might just sprout a few more head coaches hungry to tip the scales yet again. Curious to dig deeper? LEARN MORE.

“Gannon, Steichen, and Moore better vote for it,” Sirianni said. “They are in the position right now because of that play. So all three, I better have those three votes right there and the Eagles’ vote. I at least know we have four.”By next year, when the league potentially takes another run at killing the play, the Eagles may have placed one or two more coordinators in head-coaching jobs — if the Eagles fly again to a Super Bowl, and if offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo and defensive coordinator Vic Fangio get opportunities.Obviously, Steichen and Gannon didn’t have the final say regarding their teams’ positions. It’ll be for them to explain to Sirianni why they weren’t able to make a difference.Colts coach Shane Steichen and Cardinals coach Jonathan Gannon parlayed the Eagles’ tush-push-fueled Super Bowl run into their current gigs. Their teams nevertheless voted in favor of banning the play.In March, Eagles coach Nick Sirianni addressed (with a grin) the positions he expected Steichen, Gannon, and Saints coach Kellen Moore (the Eagles’ offensive coordinator in 2024) to take.

Moore and the Saints opposed the proposal.Indianapolis and Arizona were among the 22 teams that voted to prohibit all pushing of the runner.Steichen previously was Philly’s offensive coordinator, and Gannon was the defensive coordinator. Both left after the 2022 season.