Tarik Cohen is undoubtedly excited for the Bears’ trip to London this weekend. But coach Matt Nagy may want to keep a close eye on his 24-year-old running back.
While walking to practice Wednesday, Cohen, who has never been to London, was telling Nagy about some of the sights he wanted to see and things he wanted to do.
The two eventually got on the topic of the famous “Changing of the Guard” outside Buckingham Palace.
The Queen’s Guard are a tourist attraction in their own right thanks to their iconic large bearskin helmets, crisp red jackets and expressionless faces. It’s become somewhat of a norm for tourists to snap a smiling selfie with the stone-face guards.
Nagy saw the guards several years ago and was fascinated by their ability to stand still throughout their shifts.
“I don’t know how a human being can sit there and do that like they do,” Nagy said Thursday. “That’s crazy, but it’s pretty cool. So, I just sat there like a little kid, just staring. These people don’t even blink.”
Cohen saw this as a challenge and told Nagy he has what it takes to distract the Queen’s Guard.
“[Cohen] goes, ‘Ah nah ... I’ll get ‘em to move. I’ll definitely to get ‘em to move,’” Nagy said. “I looked at him, he goes, ‘Coach, I’m funny.’”
Cohen didn’t give Nagy any indication on what he would do to make the guards crack.
“I don’t want to know that,” Nagy said.
A member of the Queen’s Guard can be fined if they’re caught laughing or smiling while on duty.
