On the eve of Super Bowl XX, Caesars Sportsbook bookmaker Art Manteris wanted to capitalize on the interest surrounding the famed 1985 Chicago Bears, who would be playing the New England Patriots in New Orleans for the Lombardi Trophy.
Bears coach Mike Ditka had been using defensive tackle William "The Refrigerator" Perry in the backfield on certain short-yardage plays all season, so Manteris thought offering a proposition bet on the rookie to score a touchdown would be a good way to generate handle and potential profit. Longtime Las Vegas bookmaker and current DraftKings sportsbook director Johnny Avello recalls that Ditka had been downplaying the idea of Perry getting the ball in the Super Bowl.