Case Keenum will indeed remain in place with the Bears next season, but he will not do so as a coach (a rumored scenario). The veteran quarterback has agreed to a new contract.
Keenum is set to re-sign on a two-year deal with a base value of $5.5MM, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. The pact can max out at $8MM. Keenum could of course still be a coaching candidate in the future, but for now his playing days will continue.
Of this contract, $2.9MM is guaranteed (via KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson). A $750K roster bonus will be due on Day 5 of the 2027 league year. Third-stringers rarely carry a roster bonus of any sort, so this is notable. The Bears have Tyson Bagent installed as their backup, and although trade interest has come in on the former UDFA, Bagent is still expected to operate as Caleb Williams‘ caddy in 2026.
This contract positions Keenum to extend his career to 15 seasons. Even as he drifted back to the backup tier to start the 2020s, Keenum has been a coveted option — particularly with regards to leadership. The Bears may well move Keenum to a coaching role at some point, but for now, the soon-to-be 38-year-old passer looks to have at least one more year as a player.
Previously in place as a part-time Texans backup (alongside Davis Mills), Keenum has not thrown a regular-season pass since 2023. Keenum is a veteran of eight NFL teams, having begun his career as a 2012 Texans UDFA. The Houston alum has made 66 career starts. If he is to break into coaching, learning from Ben Johnson would be a good developmental program. David Blough took that route to an OC job at age 30.
His most memorable stretch came as Sam Bradford‘s backup in 2017, when he piloted the Vikings to a 13-3 season and led the NFL in QB DVOA. After sporting a 29:7 TD-INT ratio, Keenum made the “Minneapolis Miracle” throw to Stefon Diggs to elevate the Vikings to their only post-Brett Favre NFC championship game. The Broncos’ subsequent two-year, $36MM starter deal for Keenum — as they passed on Josh Allen weeks later in a loaded 2018 QB draft — did not pan out, and after a 2019 Washington stay, Keenum has toured a few cities (Cleveland, Buffalo, Houston, Chicago) as a backup.
Adam La Rose contributed to this post.
Wonder if they keep Bagent? Why take up a roster spot with Keenum?
This practically cements that Bagent is staying. Why sign Keenum if you going to move Bagent and sign someone else? They might move him next year but I’m pretty sure he’s staying this year. What’s more interesting is who are they bringing in to take the Pre season reps?
The Bears will bring in Brian Hoyer because two antique QBs are better than one…lol.