"The infamous play known as "Stumble Bum" was the brainchild of offensive coordinator Ben Johnson. The play began with quarterback Jared Goff taking the snap and faking a stumble as he dropped back. Running back Jahmyr Gibbs dove to the ground as if trying to recover a fumble. After Bears defenders bit on the fake, Goff delivered a 21-yard touchdown pass to tight end Sam LaPorta with 12:18 to play in the third quarter."
"Poles looked to the Lions sideline, where players and coaches exploded with excitement. "You're definitely frustrated in the moment," Poles said. "You feel like someone's kicking you while you're down. "At the same time, I admired the creativity and execution of it." He wasn't the only member of the Bears' brass who felt that way. "Fooled me," Bears chairman George H. McCaskey said. "I was like, 'Hey, the quarterback's on the ground.'""
On Dec. 22, 2024, at Soldier Field, the Detroit Lions beat the Chicago Bears 34-17, resulting in the Bears' 10th consecutive loss. The game's decisive touchdown came on an inventive play called "Stumble Bum," designed by offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, which involved Jared Goff faking a stumble and Jahmyr Gibbs feigning a fumble before Goff hit Sam LaPorta for a 21-yard score. Bears executives, including GM Ryan Poles and chairman George H. McCaskey, expressed frustration over the loss while acknowledging admiration for the play's creativity and execution. Ben Johnson emerged as a prominent candidate in the Bears' head-coaching search during the interim Thomas Brown era.
Read at ESPN.com
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