Tyson Bagent came from nowhere. He made his name at Sheppard University, a Division II program. Most quarterbacks at that level never come close to sniffing the NFL. However, Bagent had enough size and arm strength to at least get some attention. After setting passing records in college, he delivered an excellent pre-draft run through the all-star circuit. While it didn’t get him drafted, the Chicago Bears expressed more than enough interest to sign him as an undrafted free agent. People figured he had a good shot at making the practice squad. One can imagine their surprise when he played so well in the preseason that they made him the primary backup.
Bagent started four games as a rookie, going 2-2. He settled into the backup role well, honing his craft each year. His work over the past month was enough to convince head coach Ben Johnson that they needed to keep him around. The Bears thus offered him a two-year extension worth up to $16 million. Bagent could’ve declined, opting to hit free agency next spring and pursue a starting job. Instead, he wanted to stick with Johnson, hoping to learn more about playing the position. Plus, he got to stay somewhere he loves.
If you thought he was excited to get the new deal, watch Caleb Williams when he gets the news.
Caleb’s reaction says a lot about Tyson Bagent as a teammate.
Playing the same position can sometimes make things awkward. Everybody wants to play. There have been more than a few quarterback rooms where tensions led to hard feelings. Ask Justin Fields about Nick Foles and Andy Dalton. Williams’ celebration tells you the kind of teammate Tyson Bagent is. There has never been any remote indication that the two are at odds with each other. Quite the opposite. They share a strong friendship born of the grind. Bagent has been a steady supporter of Williams since the #1 overall pick arrived last year. That was his job, and he did it well. Now the Bears are rewarding him for all that work. Fortunately, he chose to stay. The team should have some much-needed stability moving forward.
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