Bears show backup QB Tyson Bagent how they really feel about him by making a move you don’t see often in the NFL
He’s earned every penny.
The Chicago Bears made a major move for the future on Wednesday by locking up backup quarterback Tyson Bagent on a much-deserved extension in a move you don’t see often.
Bagent’s new deal is two-year, $10M contract extension with a max value of $16M with incentives and was a deal many expected to get done by the two sides before the 2025 season kicked off.
Landing an extension prior to a third year is usually rare in the NFL, but not for an undrafted player with a three-year rookie deal. Getting this done before the season gives Bagent more security as opposed to entering the final year of his deal with no extension.
“Tyson epitomizes what we are building at the Chicago Bears,” head coach Ben Johnson said, via the team’s official statement. “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.”
The Bears young backup is in the middle of another stellar preseason stint after throwing for 299 yards, two touchdowns and one interception over the last two game against the Miami Dolphins and the Buffalo Bills.
Bagent’s success leading Ben Johnson’s offense, along with the presence of starting quarterback Caleb Williams, led to many trade rumors with QB-needy teams potentially interested in prying Bagent out of Chicago. The Bears front office quickly closed that door.
“Tyson’s a stud,” general manager Ryan Poles explained during the Bills game last Sunday. “There isn’t a harder worker on this football team than Tyson Bagent. You can just see with his background coming from Shepherd, always kind of had an underdog vibe to him. And the dude’s just gritty, and he’s tough and he continues to work and get better every single year.”
After playing under two offensive systems in as many years, Bagent has developed a strong mutual relationship with head coach Ben Johnson, who considered Bagent to be “phenomenal” and is thrilled to have him in the locker room.
“Just really for me, it’s simple, there’s no BSing going on right now,” Bagent explained. “I like to have as much fun as I possibly can outside of this building, but when I’m here, I’m pretty much full steam ahead, what are we going to do today, what are we going to accomplish, and looking at him. Whether it’s getting a play from him, talking to him between plays, he’s right there with me intensity-wise. Which is all you can ask for from a head coach.”
Bagent will now be tied to Chicago, and Johnson’s offense, through the 2027 season, giving the Bears a valuable option to keep in the building behind Williams.
You couldn’t ask for a more win-win deal for a player who certainly has deserved some commitment and a pay raise.
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