Tyson Bagent provides Bears with ultimate insurance at QB

Tyson Bagent has become quite the success story for the Chicago Bears. After going undrafted in 2023 out of Shepherd, Bagent inked a two-year contract extension that could be worth as much as $16 million. It’s a deal that runs through 2027.

Bagent has proven through his first two seasons that he’s more than capable of filling in for an injured starter. He had some quality performances in place of Justin Fields in 2023. And while he didn’t see the field much last season, his summer under Ben Johnson has been outstanding.

In Week 2’s preseason win over the Buffalo Bills, Bagent completed 13-of-22 passes for 196 yards and one touchdown. It was a performance that sparked rumors of quarterback-needy teams potentially targeting Bagent; it upped GM Ryan Poles’ urgency to get an extension ironed out.

Bagent ended the Bills game with a 66.7 BTG (BearsTalk Grade), which equates to an above-average score.

“We are fortunate to ensure that Tyson remains a member of the Chicago Bears,” said Poles. “He is one of the hardest workers on our team and in addition to being a great competitor and teammate, he is a catalyst for positive influence throughout our entire organization.”

Tyson Bagent is more than just a backup QB

Tyson Bagent also offers the Bears a doomsday insurance policy. Let’s face it, if Caleb Williams fails, Chicago should be doomed. But would they really be in that bad of shape? Could a player like Bagent be more than capable of bridging the gap between a Williams fallout and whoever the next QB1 would be? And, could that next QB1 even be Bagent?

Look, I’m not saying that Williams will fail. I am beyond confident that he will emerge as a top-10 quarterback by the time the 2025 season ends. His arrow will be pointing up, too. By the time we’re reviewing the 2026 NFL season, Caleb Williams could be a legitimate MVP candidate.

But it’s still nice to have Bagent around, isn’t it?

“Tyson epitomizes what we are building at the Chicago Bears,” said head coach Ben Johnson. “We are constructing a team that is driven by belief and built by hard work, and there is no better example of that than Tyson Bagent.”

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