Tyson Bagent finally breaks the silence on the offseason trade rumors and the expected path forward with the Bears
His starting opportunity will likely have to wait for at least another season.
Ahead of the NFL Combine, news leaked that the Arizona Cardinals were “intrigued” by Chicago Bears backup quarterback Tyson Bagent amid the team’s search for their 2026 starting QB. At the NFL Combine itself, Bears general manager Ryan Poles confirmed those rumors.
“We’ve gotten a few calls there,” Poles explained. “Obviously the tough thing is what Ben [Johnson] thinks about Tyson, what I think about Tyson, what our locker room thinks about Tyson. That’s a really tough decision for us. But, for Tyson as well, I think he would have an opportunity to go and perform for a team a do some really good things.”
The trade interests put the Bears in a tough spot. The entire building loves Bagent, both the player and the person, and didn’t want to just hand him away. However, they understand Bagent’s potential desire to finally be a starting quarterback and believe in his ability to be that kind of player.
“I’m of the mind that he’s probably one of the best 32 in the NFL,” Bears head coach Ben Johnson said. “His preseason tape over the last two years confirmed that in my opinion. But, if I took myself out of the equation, I want what’s best for him. If he would like an opportunity to start, I certainly hope he can get that at some point.”
As the offseason unfolded, the Bears held a firm price on what it would take to pry Bagent out of Chicago and no team was willing to bite. The Cardinals, Jets, and Dolphins all went in another direction in their QB search, with Bagent now expected to stay with the Bears in 2026.
Tyson Bagent addresses trade interest and his future with the Chicago Bears
“I would say all of that noise during the combine stuff was not necessarily expected,” Bagent said, via CHGO Bears. “But, as far as this NFL thing has been, you can’t expect… everything is unexpected. It was nice to hear my bosses talk [about] me that way. But, as far as my thoughts behind it, the only thing I need to do is stay ready. For right now, that seems to be to be the best quarterback I can be for the Bears for another season.”
Truthfully, Bagent is handling everything the right way. He can only control what he can control. He’s not being out-spoken on social media like a diva and trying to force his way out to compete for a starting job elsewhere. He’s just keeping his head down and working while understanding he’s still in a great situation in Chicago for the time being developing under a coach like Johnson.
“He loves me and nobody loves Ben Johnson more than Tyson Bagent,” Bagent added. “I’ll lay that on the line right now. I appreciate him and what he’s done and what I’m positive he’ll continue to do at the helm of the Bears.”
As things stand, the Bears are expected to go into the 2026 season with Bagent in the fold alongside Caleb Williams and Case Keenum at the quarterback position. Now, plans can certainly change between now and September, or even by the trade deadline, once injuries happen and teams start getting desperate for an answer at quarterback.
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