Why Bears coach Ben Johnson seemed destined for this moment

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CHICAGO -- Standing in his Soldier Field suite on Dec. 22, 2024, Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Poles felt mixed emotions as he watched the Detroit Lions score their final touchdown in a 34-17 rout.

On one hand, losing to a division rival amid a 10-game winless streak in a stadium full of fans cheering on the visitors stung. A lot.

But there was something about this Lions playcall that tempered Poles' frustration.

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…