When people discuss the Chicago Bears’ quarterback position, two names tend to dominate the conversation. One is, of course, Caleb Williams. He is the starter and possibly an emerging star in the NFL. The other is Tyson Bagent, arguably one of the league’s best backups. Case Keenum isn’t a name that comes up often. Yet the Bears seem to treat him as royalty. A truly vital part of their locker room. That seems odd for a third-string quarterback. Yet when you hear Williams talk about Keenum, you begin to understand why.
Not enough people acknowledge an important fact about the 38-year-old. He is one of just 51 quarterbacks in NFL history to log 15 or more seasons in a career. Only five of them can be classified as career backups like Keenum. So he’s in rare company.
“Coach said it today – there’s 340 ever in the history of the NFL and Case Keenum’s one of them to be 15 years in this league,” Williams said. “The league’s been around for 100 years and that’s a low number. I think having that type of people around me and then also just having people that I look up to and idolize to be able to kind of refer back to.”
One thing you can always say about players like this is they’ve seen just about everything there is to see. Keenum has suited up for eight different franchises in his career. That experience has run the gamut from miserable bottom-dwelling seasons to one win away from the Super Bowl. The same was true for his fellow ageless backups.
| Player | Seasons | Years | Games | Starts | Primary teams |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Earl Morrall | 21 | 1956–1976 | 294 | 104 | Lions, Giants, Colts, Dolphins |
| Bill Munson | 16 | 1964–1979 | 256 | 66 | Rams, Lions |
| Don Strock | 15 | 1974–1988 | 232 | 22 | Dolphins |
| Josh McCown | 16+ | 2002–2019 | 256 | 76 | Cardinals, Bears, Bucs, Browns, Jets |
| Tyrod Taylor | 15 | 2011–2025 | 240 | 62 | Ravens, Bills, Browns, Chargers, Texans, Giants, Jets |
Having a Case Keenum on your roster is always beneficial.
That is particularly true if you have a young quarterback. Morrall was a vital mentor to Bob Griese during their time together with the Miami Dolphins, leading to two Super Bowl titles in 1972 and 1973. Munson oversaw the early development of future Hall of Famer Dan Fouts in San Diego. Strock was there to oversee Dan Marino’s rise to superstardom in Miami. Taylor was a massive help to Justin Herbert when he took over the Chargers in Los Angeles. Don’t underestimate the value of a wily veteran in the room.
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We already saw what Case Keenum did for Williams last season. His constant encouragement was a big part of why the Bears managed to win so many games in comeback fashion. That encyclopedic knowledge he had of defenses undoubtedly gave Williams some tips on how to attack them in key situations. It is no wonder the Bears were quick to bring him back, and with a pay raise no less. It feels almost inevitable at this point that Keenum has a job as a coach waiting for him whenever he finally does retire.
Don’t forget the Bears have exploited this idea before.
Everybody remembers that the Bears won the Super Bowl in 1985. What they don’t remember is the year before, in 1984. They signed a 38-year-old quarterback named Greg Landry. That was his 15th season. With his presence, Jim McMahon played some of his best football, going 7-2 that season. Then backup Steve Fuller came in, threw 3 touchdowns, no interceptions, and went 2-2. Neither quarterback would be quite as sharp after that despite the rousing success. Landry’s influence was pretty obvious.
That is what Keenum brings to the table. He is a perfect sounding board for Williams because he’s seen everything there is to see in this league. If you listen to his advice, it’s probably pretty good. Williams is smart enough to recognize it. He doesn’t know everything. Listen to the guy who has been around longer. Credit must go to head coach Ben Johnson for recognizing what the team needed last year.
