Ben Johnson is already a celebrity in Chicago. The Bears’ head coach has won the city’s admiration with his outgoing personality and good sense of humor, as demonstrated during a recent visit to the United Center, where he didn’t hesitate to troll Bulls fans.

Just under a year ago, Johnson arrived at the Bears with the difficult task of lifting a team that, only a season earlier in 2024, had finished with a 5-12 record and in last place in the NFC North.

Against all odds, Johnson not only finished with an 11-6 record in his first year, but he also led the team to the Divisional Round, losing to the Los Angeles Rams.

The journey produced several iconic moments, such as the victory over the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 13. This victory, in turn, produced a viral moment when Johnson took off his shirt to celebrate the win.

This Sunday, the scene was almost repeated.

Johnson and the prank on the Bulls fans

While waiting for the NFL year to begin, on March 11, the Bears’ head coach went to the United Center to support the Bulls in their game against the Milwaukee Bucks.

At one point, while the TV cameras were focused on him, Johnson suddenly lifted his sweatshirt… revealing the t-shirt he was wearing underneath.

The fans who caught the prank burst into laughter and gave Johnson a warm round of applause. Moreover, the Bears’ coach seemed to have brought good luck to the Bulls, who won the game 120-97.

The true story behind the shirtless Johnson

One of the reasons Johnson’s prank thrilled fans was the story behind the original stunt.

Back then, the iconic Wieners Circle stand promised free hot dogs for everyone if the Bears coach took off his shirt after the game against the Eagles, NFL insider Adam Schefter reported.

While it’s unclear if Johnson was aware of the promise, he did remove his shirt during a passionate pep talk to his players after beating Philadelphia, and the rest, as they say, is history.