Appearing this weekend at the Laugh Factory: Ben Johnson and the Detroit Lions. If there’s any offense in the NFL that puts a smile on your face—an offense that deserves a prime slot at your local comedy club—it’s Jared Goff, Sam LaPorta, and those maniacs from the Motor City.
Johnson has a reputation as one of the most creative offensive coordinators in the NFL, and that continued in Week 16 with an incredible trick play against the Chicago Bears that resulted in a touchdown.
Lions Pull Off Fake Stumble Trick Play That Results In a Touchdown
In a Lions season filled with offensive creativity—laterals, flea flickers, and the like—Johnson and his crew delivered arguably their slickest trick play of the season on Sunday afternoon.
During the third quarter of the Lions-Bears rumble at Soldier Field, Goff took the snap and, during his drop back, tripped over his own feet.
Or did he?
Meanwhile, Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs, on his way to scoop the handoff, also tripped over his own feet.
Or did he?
With all the fake stumbling and bumbling happening in the backfield, too few Bears noticed LaPorta rumbling down the sidelines… or at least too few Bears to keep LaPorta from grabbing Goff’s perfectly thrown pass and waltzing into the end zone.
This was planned.
Ben Johnson is intentional. pic.twitter.com/OBGo0pRA5q— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 22, 2024
This, ladies and germs, was the most hilarious touchdown of the 2024 season. Tip your server and try the veal.
This is the kind of action for which the Bears should’ve been prepared. Throughout Johnson’s tenure, the Lions have boasted the trickiest—and, frankly, the funniest—offensive unit in the league. You can’t watch a Lions game without enjoying, say, a hook-and-ladder.
And that stems from Johnson.
Is Ben Johnson Heading to Chicago?
Johnson, who’s actually quite the serious thinker, isn’t concerned when, where, and how he dials up his goofy plays, explaining to Sports Illustrated:
“[W]e can run a million different types of plays. We try to mix it up,” he said. “From that regard, I’m not worried about putting things on tape. If anything, it’s just gonna help set up the next thing down the road, and the well is deep.”
Ben’s well of trickeration is both funny and effective, so it’s little surprise that Johnson will be one of the upcoming cycle’s most sought-after head coaching candidates. And one of those teams who will likely be doing some heavy Johnson-seeking?
That’s right, the Chicago Bears.
For the last three seasons, Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson has been among the NFL’s most original, most innovative play callers. He’s helped turn Jared Goff into an MVP candidate; coming into Week 16, his well-balanced unit led the league in scoring; and he does stuff like the ridiculous fake stumble touchdown play.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the NFC North, the Chicago Bears have cycled through three OCs in the last calendar year (Luke Getsy, Shane Waldron, and Thomas Brown), none of whom have been able to deliver anything close to a playoff-caliber offensive. For that matter, it could be argued that the franchise hasn’t had a top shelf OC since a sort-of-past-his-prime Mike Martz called plays in the 2010 and 2011 seasons.
Chicago media has speculated about a Johnson/Bears marriage, but that smoke has officially become fire.
NFL Network’s @TomPelissero reports that Ben Johnson is interested in the #Bears head coaching job. pic.twitter.com/IUu5YYMpfd
— Jacob Infante (@jacobinfante24) December 22, 2024
Just before the Lions beat down the Bears 34-17 on Sunday, Pelissero said, “The Bears might be getting a look at their next head coach,” adding, “My understanding is that Johnson is intrigued by the Bears job, and he is going to be willing to listen.”
Makes sense. Sure, the Lions look like they’re poised to be a perennial contender, but the opportunity to resurrect one of the league’s flagship franchises might be too good to pass up for the 38-year-old.
Sure, the Bears have struggled throughout the season, but on certain levels, Johnson would be heading into an attractive situation. Rookie quarterback Caleb Williams is improving by the week—his 334-yard, two-touchdown, zero interception performance during Sunday’s Bears loss was among his finest outings of the season—the Bears have cap space galore, and they boast a frisky wide receivers room (D.J. Moore and Rome Odunze, primarily) just waiting for some quality direction.
Johnson will likely ask for a chunky contract, full personnel control, and potentially the opportunity to handpick his own general manager—three things that one wouldn’t expect the traditionally conservative Bears to deliver.
But if they want a coach who can hang in today’s NFL, they’ll have to break tradition. And if a back-to-back-to-back lost seasons don’t merit a break, nothing will.