Caleb Williams might have been one of the key motivations behind Ben Johnson taking the head-coaching job with the Chicago Bears, but he is not the only one of the Bears’ quarterbacks who has caught his attention in 2025 training camp.
Johnson heaped praise on backup quarterback Tyson Bagent on Tuesday when asked about his evaluation of the third-year signal-caller amid his competition with veteran Case Keenum for the No. 2 quarterback job behind Williams for the 2025 season.
“Man, he’s been phenomenal,” Johnson said before August 5’s practice. “I mean, he’s smart as a whip. Appreciate the seriousness and intent that he brings every time he walks into a room. Meeting room, walk-through, it doesn’t matter. He’s locked in, he’s focused. I think his teammates feel that from him. Love the fact, you know, he’ll throw the ball and he keeps working through his progressions just so it goes home with exactly where everyone’s going to be in case he had to move on. I think he’s taken this seriously. He’s preparing the right way. And I couldn’t be more thrilled that he’s here with us.”
Tyson Bagent Remains Favorite to Win No. 2 QB Job
Johnson’s effusive praise for Bagent rings true to what other coaches have said about the young quarterback in the past, but it also suggests that Bagent is still a favorite to remain the Bears’ top backup quarterback in 2025 despite some offseason skepticism.
Questions about Bagent’s job security have come up in the four months since the Bears signed Keenum — a 66-game NFL starter — to a one-year contract for the 2025 season. While Bagent has held down the QB2 job in each of the past two seasons, he has not played any meaningful snaps since his four-game run as a replacement starter in 2023.
Bagent also faced the challenge of trying to win over a new offensive coaching staff, one that decided to seek out a more experienced quarterback for its roster in the offseason.
Johnson’s comments, however, make it obvious that he and his staff think highly of the third-year quarterback. Bagent must still earn his spot as the No. 2 quarterback in the weeks to come, particularly in preseason action when both he and Keenum will get time on task to demonstrate their command and understanding of Johnson’s new offense.
But as long as he stays “phenomenal” in the eyes of Johnson, Bagent should not have too much trouble keeping his job as Williams’ top backup for the 2025 regular season.
Could Tyson Bagent Draw Trade Interest After Camp?
Bagent should see substantial playing time over the next three weeks in the Bears’ three preseason games, even if Johnson decides to give the starters a few series in each game. He has much more developmental potential than the 37-year-old Keenum, who would still add plenty of value as the third-string quarterback and a mentor for the position.
If Bagent shoots out the lights for the Bears in preseason action, though, could another team with more quarterback concerns come calling about his availability in a trade?
Bagent has gradually worked his way into relevance in the 27 months since he joined the Bears as an undrafted rookie out of Division II Shepherd University. He beat out veteran quarterbacks P.J. Walker and Nathan Peterman for the top backup job in 2023. He also defended his position as the No. 2 quarterback against a challenge from Brett Rypien in 2024, showing good processing and pocket presence in his strong preseason.
While Bagent is still largely unproven in the regular season, he could enter some teams’ radars as a trade candidate if he delivers another step-forward performance during the 2025 preseason. Teams are unlikely to take a chance on him as a Day 1 starter, but one might be willing to give him the chance to earn the starting job throughout the season if they have doubts about their current starter or want to find a near-future successor.
The Los Angeles Rams could fit the bill for the latter with Matthew Stafford.
Even still, the Bears have little reason to trade away Bagent unless they receive a trade offer that is too good to refuse (i.e., something in the range of a high Day 3 selection).
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