Insider Says Bears Have Ulterior Motive With Tyson Bagent Extension

The Chicago Bears made their commitments clear this offseason. GM Ryan Poles wanted to give quarterback Caleb Williams the best possible chance to ascend this year. That is why he hired Ben Johnson as head coach and why almost every major resource was devoted to improving the offense. They signed or traded for three new interior offensive linemen, drafted a tight end in the 1st round, and a wide receiver in the 2nd. On paper, this is the deepest and most talented offense the Bears have put together in a decade. Where things got interesting was the decision to extend Tyson Bagent.

On the surface, the move is an easy sell. The former undrafted free agent came out of nowhere in 2023 to steal the backup job. Since then, he has held it firmly despite multiple contenders, including Case Keenum this summer. It is no secret the team loves him. What we might not realize is how much. Adam Jahns of CHGO had some fascinating comments in a recent column. He strongly hinted that the extension wasn't merely because they wanted to keep their depth strong.

They might consider him a serious starting option if Williams doesn't progress.

Take everything that the Bears have said about backup quarterback Tyson Bagent – and will probably continue to say – very seriously.

This isn’t meant to stir controversy. Williams is the starter. The Bears will be patient with his development. His failures will be tolerated for now because of it.

But Bagent isn’t your typical backup quarterback, either...

...Poles: “We are fortunate to ensure that Tyson remains a member of the Chicago Bears. 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.”

Johnson: “Tyson epitomizes what we are building at the Chicago Bears. 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.”

How many teams say such things about their backup quarterback? Bagent’s new deal and the words of Poles and Johnson could be perceived as a message sent to the locker room, including to Williams. It should be a challenge. Poles and Johnson have complimented Williams but they’re not saying the same things that they are about Bagent right now.

Tyson Bagent has made a clear impression.

Most people don't consider him starter material because he was an undrafted free agent and doesn't have great arm strength. However, everything else about his game is impossible to ignore. He processes quickly, makes accurate passes, runs the huddle efficiently, and has performed well in crunch time. Tyson Bagent plays the game like a professional should. The only thing keeping him away from a starting job is the perception that he isn't talented enough. If Jahns is right, the Bears think that concern is way overblown. The contract extension they signed him to buys the team time. If Williams doesn't blossom or show signs of progress this year, they will have the option of pivoting to Bagent with the knowledge he'll be under an affordable deal for two years.

Make no mistake. The team is not angling to get rid of Williams. They want him to succeed. However, they aren't naive enough to assume things will work out. Bagent has most of the traits they look for in a quarterback. The head coach loves him. The system fits his style of play. Crazy things can happen.