If there is one thing Matt Ryan knows, it’s quarterbacking. The man was easily one of the best of his generation, carving out a Hall of Fame-worthy career with the Atlanta Falcons in the 2010s. He holds every franchise passing record, ranks among the top ten all-time in most NFL categories, and won a league MVP. His opinion on how to play the position should be valued. Ryan Poles certainly does. The Chicago Bears GM was teammates with the former All-Pro at Boston College. They have a friendship that goes back years.
So, it wasn’t a huge surprise that the quarterback appeared on HBO’s Hard Knocks for the third episode. Poles invited him to Halas Hall to watch training camp, tour the facility, and discuss some game tape. Here is where it gets fun. It was already well known that Ryan is a big fan of Caleb Williams, calling him the best quarterback in the 2024 class, acknowledging the Patrick Mahomes comparison.
However, it doesn’t stop there. According to new footage, Ryan is also a big fan of backup quarterback Tyson Bagent. He believes the former undrafted free agent has come a long way from last year and that the Bears are fortunate to have him.
Matt Ryan knows what he’s talking about.
All someone has to do is watch the tape to understand. Bagent looks so much more confident and comfortable this year. His understanding of NFL coverages is far more advanced, as is his ability to take advantage of them. For the preseason, he is 14-of-19 for 150 yards and two touchdowns. He has looked decisive and sharp in every appearance. Other people have taken notice of his progress, too. Some are wondering if teams like the Las Vegas Raiders or New York Giants should try making a trade for him.
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The Bears seem uninterested in doing that. They understand the value of having a good backup quarterback. Bagent went 2-2 last season as a rookie after Justin Fields got injured. If he’s even better now, holding onto him is the smart decision. No Bears starting quarterback has made it through a full season since 2009. Depth should matter to this team. Seeing someone like Matt Ryan acknowledge the franchise may have finally gotten the position right is exciting.
