What Bears’ Joe Thuney said about wild Ben Johnson trick play that got called back appeared first on ClutchPoints. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Head coach Ben Johnson never hesitates to pull out all the tricks in his playbook, and the Chicago Bears gave fans another wild moment on Thursday Night Football. During Chicago’s thrilling 30-24 victory over the New England Patriots at Soldier Field, Johnson called a clever goal-line trick play designed specifically for veteran guard Joe Thuney.
On a crucial second-and-3 snap from the New England 8-yard line, franchise quarterback Caleb Williams handed the football off to the All-Pro guard. Thuney turned his back to the line of scrimmage to disguise the handoff, then spun around to rumble forward for a hard-fought two-yard gain. However, yellow flags quickly hit the turf as game officials called the play back for an illegal forward handoff.
Despite the frustrating penalty, Thuney was able to chuckle about his brief moment as a ball-carrier in the postgame locker room.
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“They said forward handoff or something, so gotta go look at it. It was fun but illegal, I guess,” Thuney told reporters following the contest. “I guess I should have been more behind.”
“It was fun but illegal, I guess”🤣
Joe Thuney on forward handoff play: pic.twitter.com/tKvklcThka
— CHGO Bears (@CHGO_Bears) October 23, 2026
The whistle cost Chicago a shot at a touchdown on that possession, forcing them to settle for a 31-yard field goal from kicker Cairo Santos to stretch their early lead to 13-7. Still, the negated play did not slow down the offensive rhythm. Williams delivered another lights-out performance, throwing for 308 yards and two touchdowns to help hold off quarterback Drake Maye and the Patriots in a tight battle.
While the trick play won’t show up in the box score, it highlights the aggressive and inventive identity Johnson continues to establish in Chicago. Thuney might need to adjust his positioning if Johnson dials up another offensive line handoff down the road, but the veteran guard clearly enjoyed his brief spotlight near the goal line. Expect Johnson to keep drawing up creative calls as the Bears continue building momentum for a playoff push this season.