LAKE FOREST, Ill. (670 The Score) — In December 2019, then-Shephard University quarterback Tyson Bagent made the 90-minute trip from Martinsburg, West Virginia to Landover, Maryland to see his first NFL game.
It was an inconsequential game between the Redskins and Giants, each playing out the end of lost seasons, but one player caught the attention of Bagent that day. It was veteran quarterback Case Keenum, who took over for Washington in the third quarter and rallied his team from a 14-point deficit in the fourth quarter before New York won 41-35 in overtime.
Bagent, who turned 24 on Sunday, is now teammates with the 37-year-old Keenum. They’re competing to be the Bears’ backup quarterback behind starter Caleb Williams.
When Bagent first met Keenum, he brought up that 2019 game.
“What a guy,” Bagent said of Keenum. “What he brings to the room, really just an encyclopedia of information. Just somebody that’s been in every role that a quarterback could possibly be in in the NFL, and I’ve just been trying to take advantage of that.”
The Bears value Keenum, a veteran entering his 13th season in the NFL, because of his wealth of knowledge and experience. Keenum has started 66 regular-season games and two postseason contests during his career. He’s also known as a tremendous presence for young quarterbacks.
An undrafted free agent signed out of Shephard, Bagent has been the Bears’ backup quarterback for the last two years. He started four games as a rookie in 2023 when then-starter Justin Fields was injured.
The Bears have an interesting battle underway for their backup quarterback job. Bagent, who will be a restricted free agent in 2026, has plenty to fight for.
With the Bears building around Williams, Bagent could look for an opportunity elsewhere next offseason, and he'll have interest in the free-agent market. If there’s an injury to a starting quarterback in the 2025 season, Bagent could perhaps be coveted in a trade.
“I think Tyson is going to play a long time in this league,” Keenum said. “I really do. He's very athletic, he's trained and he's hungry. He's one of the most well-prepared guys on that field every day, so I'm very impressed with him.”
It isn't completely clear whether the Bears will keep two or three quarterbacks on their roster once the regular season arrives, but the NFL’s emergency quarterback rule would allow them to have either Bagent or Keenum on standby as the third quarterback without burning one of their 46 game day roster spots.
Of course, the Bears can only call upon one of them to be their backup quarterback in a game. Bagent and Keenum haven’t received an indication of where they stand presently.
With that in mind, they won’t change anything.
“Just compete my ass off and try to put myself in the best position possible,” Bagent said. “And I'm sure everybody in that room and in the building will do the same.”
Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago’s sports scene and more for 670TheScore.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670.