By Mummy Grace 
Johnson’s creativity as a playcaller helped the Detroit Lions improve dramatically each year he ran their offense, including a massive jump in points scored his first season as full-time coordinator in 2022 — despite working with almost the same players as the year before.
A key part of his offensive success? Clever trick plays. Johnson regularly mixed in reverses, flea-flickers, and other gadget plays to catch defenses off guard and energize his team. And it wasn’t just for show — he used them strategically, setting up plays over the course of a game to maximize their impact.
Bobby Peters, an expert on Johnson’s offense, recently compiled every trick play the Lions ran during the 2024 season. While NFL rules now restrict All-22 film embedding, you can still watch all the creative highlights by visiting Bobby’s YouTube page.
Of course, trick plays can be polarizing. When they work, fans celebrate the brilliance; when they fail, the playcaller gets roasted for trying to be too fancy. But what sets Johnson apart is his impeccable timing and ability to weave trick plays naturally into his game plan — a level of sophistication Bears fans haven’t seen in decades.
Not every trick play has to be a game-breaking touchdown, either. A 7-yard gain on a double reverse or a safe checkdown on a flea-flicker can still be effective. The real problems come when coaches call trick plays out of desperation, something Johnson rarely does.
With Johnson at the helm, expect to see plenty of creative calls in Chicago this year — and don’t be surprised if Peters is back next offseason cutting together a new highlight reel of Bears trick plays.