DETROIT – Apparently, one good “Stumblebum” deserves another in the eyes of Detroit Lions safety Kerby Joseph.
During the second quarter of Detroit’s 52-21 blowout win over the Chicago Bears, Joseph intercepted quarterback Caleb Williams with 9:52 remaining in the period.
Known for his trolling of opponents, Joseph celebrated the play by gathering his teammates to mimic the “Stumblebum,” a trick play designed by former Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson -- now the Bears’ head coach. And to add insult to injury, Joseph said the celebration had extra meaning.
“That’s that one play that Ben Johnson had did against Chicago when we played them (last season),” Joseph said.
When asked how long the team had practiced the celebration, Joseph admitted: “We did it on the fly.”
Well played, Kerby.
The original “Stumblebum” came during the third quarter of Detroit’s Week 16 matchup against the Bears last season.
Jared Goff faked a handoff to running back Jahmyr Gibbs, who intentionally stumbled and rolled on the ground as if he’d fumbled, only for Goff to launch a 21-yard touchdown pass to Sam LaPorta to give Detroit a 34-14 lead.
Joseph’s partner in crime, fellow safety Brian Branch, didn’t realize what was happening until he was halfway through the celebration.
“Honestly, I don’t even know. (Joseph) just told me, ‘be my running back,’ and when I saw him stumble, I was like, ‘He’s doing what JG did last year!’” Branch said. “So, I just ran down the field.”
Lions coach Dan Campbell admitted he had no idea what was going on, either.
“No, I didn’t,” Campbell said when asked if he saw the celebration. “You telling me to look that up? Alright.”
Joseph, who led the NFL in interceptions last season, recorded the Lions’ first takeaway of 2025 with the pick. And while the locker room still holds Johnson in high regard, players admitted this Week 2 matchup was one they had circled.
“I felt like we’ve been talking about this (game) during the offseason when he got the job,” Joseph said. “We already knew what time it was when they came, especially since they came to the den. We knew we had to hold up.”
Joseph wasn’t alone in making plays. Branch forced a fumble in the first quarter, punching the ball out of former Lions running back D’Andre Swift, which linebacker Jack Campbell recovered.
Forcing turnovers has been a point of emphasis under Campbell, and Sunday the Lions delivered their first two of the season.
“That’s big. That’s what we pride ourselves on, especially only myself,” Joseph said. “I pride myself on getting interceptions and taking the ball away. That’s what we work wholeheartedly on, taking away the ball, because that’s the job of the defense -- to stop them from scoring and take the ball.”
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