Bears Game Day Live: Joe Brady vs. Ben Johnson as HC Candidates

The Bears’ search for a new head coach is still in its early stages, but one potential candidate could be coaching on the other sideline this Sunday. What should the Bears make of Ben Johnson as a head coaching contender?

It’s hard to figure out which aspect of the Detroit Lions’ “Stumble Bum” play is most frustrating.

Is it the name? What kind of play called “Stumble Bum” is expected to succeed?

Is it the inspiration? Of course, it was inspired by a mishap involving the Green Bay Packers against the Chicago Bears earlier this season.

Maybe it’s the outcome? The Lions turned it into a 21-yard touchdown, putting Detroit up 34-14 and contributing to their 34-17 victory at Soldier Field.

No matter how you look at it, it’s a tough pill to swallow. Lions quarterback Jared Goff faked stumbling, while running back Jahmyr Gibbs pretended to dive for a fumble, allowing Goff to find Sam LaPorta for the touchdown.

Still, if you can’t beat it, why not hire it?

The Bears are in need of a head coach, and the man behind the “Stumble Bum” play is Ben Johnson, the offensive coordinator for the Detroit Lions. He is expected to be a top candidate for many coaching openings this offseason.

If Johnson is interested in the Bears’ position, Sunday could serve as an unofficial interview that might earn him a spot in the final round of interviews. Since NFL assistant interviews can’t start until after the regular season, Johnson will likely remain focused on the Lions’ playoff push.

Johnson’s offensive genius and creativity might be exactly what the Bears need to help develop Caleb Williams into a franchise-changing quarterback.

Look at the impressive stats from Sunday: 475 total yards, 7 of 12 on third-down conversions, no turnovers, three passing touchdowns, and just two offensive penalties.

And don’t forget the “Stumble Bum” play.

“Ben, that was one of his brainchildren,” Lions head coach Dan Campbell said. “It started that way, and then we massaged it and worked it.”

The play worked perfectly. Imagine what other innovative plays Johnson could bring to the Bears if he were interested in the job.

Johnson’s interest in the position isn’t just speculation.

There’s genuine interest in whether Johnson would consider the Bears’ job. A pro-con list might have its positives and negatives, but…

“My understanding is Johnson is intrigued by the Bears’ job and will be open to listening,” NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported on NFL GameDay Morning. “There’s a lot to like in Chicago with Caleb Williams, plenty of cap space, and extra draft resources.”

Johnson knows there will come a time when he’ll want to take the leap to head coach.

“I think there’s a burning desire in every man to find what he’s made of, push the limits, and see if he’s got what it takes,” Johnson said Thursday. “So, yeah, there’s a fire there. When that time comes, I don’t know, but the fire is definitely there.”

Even though it’s been a rough season for the Bears, Caleb Williams continues to show his growth and adaptability to the NFL game.

Despite another loss in a challenging season, it’s clear that after seeing what Johnson did on Sunday, the Bears would be wise to consider fostering that fire themselves.

Johnson’s offense wasn’t just about trick plays and big gains. He designed running plays for Jahmyr Gibbs that highlighted his shiftiness and speed. Gibbs surpassed 100 yards on Sunday.

He also found ways to get the ball into Amon-Ra St. Brown’s hands, creating opportunities for both short and long passes. He consistently found ways to get St. Brown open.

“We have our first-play openers,” Goff said. “It doesn’t mean we always stick to them, but we have plays we want to execute early. He does a great job of setting up plays later by doing that. He’s aware of how important it is to start fast, and I thought we did.”

Of course, not everything goes as planned, even with scripted plays.

Goff noted the difference between the first and second halves. Detroit scored just one touchdown in the second half after racking up 27 points in the first. This is a key lesson for play callers: good play callers generate yards, but great ones find ways to score even when things aren’t clicking.

The Lions gained only 143 yards in the second half of Sunday’s game. By comparison, the Bears gained just four yards in the first half against San Francisco and 104 yards in the first half against Minnesota.

“I thought our first half was really good,” Goff said. “The second half was subpar. Personally, I thought I was subpar in the second half, but we overcame that.”

The lone second-half touchdown? The “Stumble Bum” play.

It wasn’t just a spontaneous play based on a broken scramble. It was meticulously planned.

Goff’s stumble and Gibbs’ dive were visual signals, but so was the offensive line yelling “Ball!” to momentarily freeze the Bears defense into thinking there was a fumble.

“By that time, a guy came from the other side and just like wheeled up,” Bears safety Jonathan Owens said. “It was a good design. I guess they got the coverage they wanted.”

That level of detail is what makes the Lions the top offense in the NFL.

That attention to detail is why Detroit is on the verge of securing the NFC’s No. 1 seed and a first-round playoff bye.

That level of detail could certainly breathe new life into a franchise in need of fresh leadership.