Agile Software Development has become a universally preferred software development practice despite its lack of theoretical development and software development project failures. This paper employs metaphor analysis to uncover the implicit assumptions that shape Agile Software Development practice and its capacity for sustainable development. Using both qualitative and quantitative methods, including content analysis and the Metaphor Identification Procedure, the paper examines academic literature and Agile Software Development practitioner interviews to identify dominant metaphors. This root analysis reveals that metaphors such as “organization as an organism” and “organization as culture” are central to Agile Software Development discourse, highlighting themes of adaptability, customer centricity, and iterative learning. However, these metaphors also expose limitations, particularly in addressing the broader socio-technical complexity and sustainability challenges inherent in Agile Software Development. By making these foundational assumptions explicit, the paper offers valuable insights for practitioners seeking to align agile practices with sustainable outcomes and for scholars aiming to enrich the theoretical discourse on Agile Software Development. The findings advocate for a more holistic framework that bridges the gap between agile rhetoric and its practical, sustainable implementation in complex organizational settings.