Bears' Ben Johnson Promises a Touchdown for Darnell Wright is Coming

Ben Johnson has gained a reputation for calling crafty trick plays, and he may already have a new trick up his sleeve.

Chicago Bears OT Darnell Wright walks on the field during Training Camp. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

When the Chicago Bears hired Ben Johnson to be their next head coach in 2025, his potential with the franchise was exciting but uncertain. On the one hand, Johnson was the architect of a juggernaut offense that turned the historically inept Detroit Lions into a Super Bowl contender. On the other hand, the Bears had their own history of ineptitude, and particularly when it came to the offense.

One thing that no one doubted, however, was that the Bears would soon become a leading purveyor of trick plays. Johnson didn't wait long to dig into his bag of tricks, calling a flea-flicker that resulted in Luther Burden's first NFL touchdown in a dominant Week 3 win over the Cowboys. We even got to see Caleb Williams be on the receiving end of a touchdown pass from DJ Moore at one point.

What will Ben Johnson come up with next in 2026? According to The Athletic's Dan Pompei, a big-man touchdown for Darnell Wright is coming. Pompei spent a day behind the scenes with Ben Johnson during Bears training camp, and he witnessed a brief exchange between the head coach and Wright.

"After the walkthrough, Johnson detours to congratulate offensive tackle Darnell Wright on his just-signed four-year, $116 million contract extension," Pompei writes. "Wright wants more and asks his coach when Johnson will deliver on his promise of getting Wright a touchdown. It's coming, Johnsons says."

Ben Johnson has three options for getting Darnell Wright a touchdown

Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson looks on during Training Camp. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

There's more than one way to skin a cat, as the saying goes. But when it comes to football, Johnson has three options for getting his prized offensive tackle a touchdown. On Thanksgiving Day of the 2024 season, Johnson, still the offensive coordinator in Detroit, dialed up a trick play for Penei Sewell that saw him stiff arming defenders as he attempted to throw a pass. It didn't work, but perhaps Johnson could add a new wrinkle to it and give Wright a shot.

However, just as Hugh Jackman's character in The Prestige wants to be the man who ends up on the stage, Wright probably wants to be the guy with the ball in the endzone. That means Wright would either have to take a handoff on a goal line situation or declare himself an eligible receiver and catch a pass from Caleb Williams.

We already know that the Bears have practiced the latter option. During minicamp last year, Johnson had his quarterbacks throw passes to the offensive line, and Wright went viral for his surprisingly acrobatic one-handed grab. Though we didn't see such a trick play emerge in 2025, perhaps Johnson could dial one up in 2026.

Of course, if Johnson wants to go old school, he could design an homage to William "The Fridge" Perry, one of the most famous members of the Bears' iconic 1985 team. Perry is perhaps best remembered for his two-yard touchdown run in Super Bowl XX. Like Perry, Wright is a massive human being, and one could easily see him bowling over linebackers for a two-yard touchdown scamper of his own.

The Bottom Line

Chicago Bears OT Darnell Wright during a game against the Green Bay Packers. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images | USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Connect

We'll have to wait and see if Johnson can finally make good on his promise to Wright. One important thing to remember is that football isn't just a game for Johnson. This is his life, and he's not going to jeopardize a potential win just for a cool moment. In the same article by Pompei, Johnson said that he wants to beat the NFL single-season scoring record currently held by the legendary 2013 Denver Broncos (606 points in 16 games).

If Johnson wants to realize his twin goals of winning a Super Bowl and setting the scoring record in 2026, every posession, every snap will matter. I'm sure the fans would love to see Wright score a touchdown, and I believe Johnson will do his best to give him that opportunity, but at the end of the day, he's going to do what's best for the team.

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