Cardinals draft prospect Ty Simpson's trick play stuns Jon Gruden
Former Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson is projected to be a draft target for the Arizona Cardinals in many NFL mock drafts.
If the Arizona Cardinals pick former Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson in next week's NFL draft, he's got some good trick plays up his sleeve. Simpson revealed how good he can distract pass rushers with a disguised "stumble bum" play on former NFL coach Jon Gruden's "Gruden's QB Class" show on April 13. During the Crimson Tide's 23-21 home loss to Oklahoma on Nov.
15, 2025, Simpson and running back Jam Miller both lost their footing in the backfield after the ball was snapped. Simpson completed a 20-yard pass to wideout Kaleb Edwards deeper into Oklahoma territory. "That was the greatest ball-faking I've ever seen," Gruden whimsically said without initially knowing the play was intentional.
"This is a real play, I swear to you," Simpson replied. Simpson explained the play more, and credited Chicago Bears coach Ben Johnson for running that same play when he was a Detroit Lions offensive coordinator from 2022-24. Gruden still couldn't believe his eyes.
Most NFL mock drafts and pundits speculate that Simpson is a strong option to be chosen by the Cardinals, who could trade their way back into the first round, or sit tight with pick No. 34, early in Round 2, and hope Simpson is still there. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Cardinals draft prospect Ty Simpson's trick play stuns Jon Gruden