You're at the one-yard line. The game is on the line. Everyone in the stadium, and everyone holding a controller, knows exactly what’s coming. It’s the play that has defensive coordinators across the NFL pulling their hair out and sparked endless debates at the league's annual meetings. Naturally, the only thing on your mind is whether is the tush push in Madden 25 so you can crush your friend's spirit in a goal-line stand.
Yes. It is.
But it’s not just a generic QB sneak anymore. EA Sports finally gave the Philadelphia Eagles' signature move its own identity, though they don't call it the "Tush Push" in the actual playbook menus. If you’re looking for it, you need to search for the Shove Sneak.
This isn't just a cosmetic update where a couple of guys stand behind the quarterback. In Madden 25, the mechanics actually reflect the physics of the real-life Brotherly Shove. You have the interior linemen diving low to create a surge, while the players positioned behind the QB—usually a tight end or a sturdy running back—actually provide a physical forward boost to move the pile. It’s gritty. It’s ugly. It’s almost impossible to stop if you have the right personnel.
Finding the Shove Sneak in Your Playbook
If you’re scrolling through a random team's playbook and can’t find it, don’t panic. While the play is technically in the game, it isn't universal. To find where the is the tush push in Madden 25 lives, you need to head over to the Under Center formations. Specifically, look under Goal Line or Heavy sets.
The Philadelphia Eagles obviously have it as a staple of their identity. However, EA has expanded the "Shove Sneak" to several other playbooks that utilized the heavy sneak often last season. If you are using a custom playbook, you'll find it listed under the "Sneak" variations in the Goal Line formation.
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Honestly, it’s kind of wild it took this long to get the mechanics right. In previous years, a QB sneak was basically a coin flip determined by a random "win" animation between the Center and the Defensive Tackle. Now, the Shove Sneak utilizes the new BOOM Tech physics engine. This means the weight and strength of the players pushing from behind actually matter. If you’ve got a weak backup TE pushing a 250-pound quarterback, you might get stuffed. If you’ve got Saquon Barkley or a heavy fullback back there? Good luck to the defense.
How to Execute the Move Without Getting Stuffed
Just picking the play isn't a guaranteed touchdown. Madden 25’s defensive AI is significantly smarter regarding "gap integrity" this year. If you just snap the ball and pray, a high-rated nose tackle like Dexter Lawrence or Chris Jones will still eat you alive.
First, you’ve got to check the defensive alignment. If the defense is in a "6-2 Goal Line" and they’ve pinched their line (LB/RB + Left Stick Down), the middle is going to be a brick wall.
Wait.
Watch the interior. If they leave the A-gap (the space between the Center and Guard) even slightly open, that’s your window. In Madden 25, the "Tush Push" works best when you don't immediately jam the sprint trigger. Just like real life, it’s about the initial surge. Snap the ball, let the animations engage, and then hold the stick forward. The "Shove" mechanic usually triggers about a half-second after the snap when the trail players make contact with the QB's back.
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Why Personnel Matters More Than Ever
You can't just plug any team into this play and expect Jalen Hurts-level success. The game calculates the "Push" based on a few specific attributes:
- Strength (STR): This is the king of the Tush Push. The strength of your Center and the two Guards determines if the line collapses or moves forward.
- Weight: Yes, player weight actually impacts the physics engine now. A 330-pound Guard is going to generate more forward momentum than a 290-pound "finesse" lineman.
- Acceleration (ACC): For the guys doing the shoving, this determines how quickly they make contact with the QB to initiate the second surge.
If you’re playing with a team like the Dolphins, who have a lighter, faster offensive line, you might find that the is the tush push in Madden 25 feels a bit underwhelming. But try it with the Eagles, Lions, or Ravens? It feels like a cheat code.
The Defensive Counter: How to Stop the Shove
It sucks being on the receiving end of this. You know it’s coming, you sell out to stop it, and they still fall forward for two yards. Madden 25 introduced specific defensive "Shoot the Gap" mechanics to combat this.
To stop the Shove Sneak, you basically have to gamble. You need to take control of your Middle Linebacker or a safety you’ve brought into the box. Right before the snap, hold the Right Trigger/R2 and the Left Trigger/L2 to prep for a "hit stick" or a low dive. The goal isn't to tackle the QB; it's to tackle the Center. If you can trip up the offensive line’s feet before the shove starts, the whole play dies in the backfield.
Also, don't sleep on the "Squeeze" defensive line adjustment. It’s not just about pinching the line; it’s about the "Under" or "Over" shifts that move your biggest bodies directly over the gaps where the shove is likely to occur.
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Realism vs. Balance: Is it Overpowered?
There’s a lot of chatter in the competitive Madden community about whether this play breaks the game. Honestly, it’s a fair question. In Madden 24, sneaks were powerful, but they felt "glitchy." In Madden 25, the Shove Sneak feels like a deliberate mechanic.
EA Sports has tried to balance it by making the fatigue penalty for heavy sets more punishing. If you try to run the Shove Sneak three times in a row, your linemen will be gassed, their strength ratings will temporary plummet, and you’ll likely fumble or get stuffed on the fourth try. It forces you to use it as a situational weapon rather than a primary offense.
It’s also worth noting that the "Shove Sneak" has a higher-than-average risk of QB injury if you’re playing in a Franchise mode with realistic sliders. Diving into a pile of 300-pound men over and over isn't exactly great for your franchise player's longevity.
Fine-Tuning Your Strategy
To truly master the is the tush push in Madden 25 experience, you should look into your playbooks' "Sub Packages." You can actually swap out the players who do the shoving.
Most people just leave the default tight ends in there. Don’t do that.
Go to the formation screen, use the Right Stick to cycle through packages, and look for "Heavy" or "Jumbo." This often puts an extra offensive lineman or a massive fullback in that "shover" position. The physics engine recognizes that extra mass. It’s the difference between getting stopped at the half-yard line and watching your QB get propelled into the end zone like he was shot out of a cannon.
Actionable Steps for Your Next Game
- Audit your playbook: Go to the practice field and check if "Shove Sneak" is in your Goal Line formation. If not, swap your playbook to Philadelphia or Detroit.
- Check your Center’s Strength: If your Center has a STR rating below 85, avoid using this play against elite Nose Tacles like Vita Vea or Dexter Lawrence.
- Manual Control: On defense, user-control the DT or a crashing LB. Don't let the AI handle the interior gap, or you'll give up the touchdown every time.
- Timing is everything: Don't snap the ball immediately. Watch the defense. If they don't have "tackles over center," it's a green light. If they are stacked, audible to a quick toss or a fade.
The Shove Sneak is a tool, not a magic wand. Use it when the math is in your favor, and you'll find that the "Brotherly Shove" is just as effective on your console as it is on Sunday afternoons in Philly.