Tyson Bagent Doesn’t Seem Thrilled About Recent Trade Rumors — Here’s Why
Tyson Bagent arrived as an undrafted free agent from Division II in 2023. He was an extremely rare success story because he beat out a more established veteran for the backup job with the Chicago Bears and even started four games that season, winning two of them. The longer he was in the locker room, the more he endeared himself to the team brass. That is why, before the 2025 season, they locked Bagent up to a three-year contract extension. It was a considerable surprise. Many thought the quarterback would be eager to become a free agent and go hunting for an opportunity to start.
Instead, he opted to stay put, loving his place in Chicago. Then the trade rumors surfaced. Teams were interested in Bagent’s availability, feeling he might be a worthwhile gamble in the absence of many options in the upcoming draft. Bears general manager Ryan Poles admitted he’d been receiving calls. Bagent was finally asked about the situation on the CHGO Bears podcast. Again, he surprisingly didn’t seem overly tickled about the idea of leaving for another team, instead showing great appreciation for head coach Ben Johnson’s comments about him.
“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.”
If that weren’t clear enough, Bagent hammered the point home a short time later.
“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.”
Tyson Bagent doesn’t seem eager to leave Ben Johnson.
The primary reasoning for signing his contract extension last year was that he wanted a chance to stay with the new Bears head coach and keep learning. It appears that stance hasn’t changed. While his competitive streak and desire to play remain as high as ever, Bagent likes where he is. Johnson’s influence is clearly strong, and the two synergize as well as any head coach and quarterback in the business. It harks back to the relationship Don Shula had with longtime backup Don Strock. It always felt like Strock could start somewhere, but he opted to stay with Shula.
Maybe that is where Tyson Bagent is at. He would love to start, but part of him feels he’s more appreciated in Chicago, even if it’s in a backup role. Sometimes people just stay where they feel wanted. It is clear that the Bears love the makeup of their quarterback room. Bagent and Caleb Williams have a strong relationship, with Case Keenum serving as a great mentor to both. Besides, it feels like only a matter of time before Williams’ play style gives Bagent his opportunity to play. He wants it to be in this offense.
What you’re seeing is rare in the NFL these days.
Most of the time, young players stuck in a backup role are all too eager to earn playing time. If they sense they won’t get it with their original team, they will leave for somewhere else. We’re seeing it with the transfer portal in college and free agency in the pros. Tyson Bagent choosing to stay put is not normal. It represents a surprising degree of loyalty and awareness. The young quarterback isn’t naive either. He knows that there would be a strong probability that any other team he joins won’t have the same coaching or roster, lowering his odds of having success.
Bagent may feel he is not ready yet. Some quarterbacks don’t mature into legitimate starters until later in their careers. We just saw that with Sam Darnold. It was also true of former backups like Kurt Warner and Rich Gannon. Sometimes, guys need time to mature and learn the game before taking their opportunity. Getting traded to a desperate quarterback-needy team probably wouldn’t have been the best outcome for Bagent.