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John Fox Challenged a Play to Get a Touchdown and Ended Up Losing the Football

Explaining a truly bizarre sequence of events in the Bears-Packers game
Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

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Who has made the worst in-game coaching decision in football history? Because John Fox wants to hold their beer.

Midway through the second quarter, the Bears faced a third-and-13 from the Green Bay 25. Running back Benny Cunningham caught a pass from Chicago quarterback Mitchell Trubisky, ran toward the end zone, and extended the ball to the pylon to try to score. But he didn’t make it—Cunningham was ruled out of bounds at the 2-yard line. Fox, hoping to get a touchdown out of the play, challenged the call.

It turns out that was a bad idea. After a video replay, the officials ruled that Cunningham actually fumbled the ball at the pylon, which, because the NFL rule book is an archaic mess, meant that the play was ruled a touchback and the Bears actually lost possession. Yes, you’re reading that right. Chicago, in position for a first-and-goal from the 2-yard line, challenged its way into giving the Packers the ball at the 20.

Here’s Fox’s reaction:

Keep calm and carry on, Chicago. Not you, though, John Fox. You out-Foxed yourself.

Danny Heifetz
Danny is the host of ‘The Ringer Fantasy Football Show.’ He’s been covering the NFL since 2016.

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