Jared Goff, the Detroit Lions’ quarterback, recently offered insight into one of the most talked-about moments of the 2024-25 NFL season—a clever misdirection play known as “StumbleBum.” This unique design, which quickly made waves on social media after appearing in the trailer for Season 2 of Netflix’s Quarterback, was the brainchild of offensive coordinator Ben Johnson.
The play, which unfolded in Detroit’s 34-17 victory over the Chicago Bears in December 2024, featured Goff faking a stumble as if he had mishandled the snap. It was a bold attempt to confuse the defense—and it worked.
In the trailer shared by Netflix Sports on X (formerly Twitter), Goff gave fans a behind-the-scenes look at how the trick play was conceived and developed. He explained that Johnson introduced the idea on a Monday, inspired by a real play from Packers quarterback Jordan Love in 2023, where Love recovered a fumbled snap and delivered a touchdown pass.
“Ben asked if I could pull it off,” Goff recalled. “At first, I thought he meant actually fumbling.”
The play’s objective was to use deception to throw off defenders—specifically Chicago linebacker T.J. Edwards. Initially, the plan involved putting the ball on the ground for realism, but by midweek, the team opted to simulate the stumble without risking an actual fumble.
Johnson kept tweaking the execution. Goff explained that they added more layers to the fake, including having running back Jahmyr Gibbs fall to the ground to enhance the illusion. To make it even more convincing, the offensive line would shout “fumble” to sell the act.
Watching a replay of the play, Goff couldn’t help but laugh at how well it worked, pointing out how Edwards took the bait and completely missed tight end Sam LaPorta sneaking behind him. Goff hit LaPorta for a 21-yard touchdown, his 33rd of the season—a personal best.
With the spotlight from Netflix, “StumbleBum” has become one of the most memorable and well-executed trick plays in recent NFL history, showcasing Ben Johnson’s creativity and Goff’s flawless execution.
