Watch: Bears’ Akiem Hicks plays offense, gets one-yard touchdown

Chicago Bears defensive lineman Akiem Hicks is known for his defensive exploits and ability to get to the quarterback, but on Sunday, he became notable for something else.

The Bears lined Hicks up on offense as the up back in a goal line situation and handed him the ball, letting him punch it in from one yard out for a go-ahead Chicago touchdown against the New York Giants.

#Bears 6-5, 332 pound DL Akiem Hicks is scoring Touchdowns!pic.twitter.com/1NYncmr8yy

— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) December 2, 2018

More than a few people noted the similarity between how Hicks was used here and how the Chicago Bears of the 1980s used William “The Refrigerator” Perry, much to their delight.

We’ll see if this is a one-off thing, but on the evidence, Hicks might just have some utility in goal line situations. Why not?