Tyson Bagent, Bears Agree to $10M Contract Extension As Caleb Williams' Backup

The Chicago Bears and backup quarterback Tyson Bagent have agreed on a two-year contract extension that keeps him with the team through the 2027 campaign.

According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, Bagent's deal is worth $10 million and can reach $16 million through various incentives.

The 25-year-old Bagent landed with the Bears as an undrafted free agent out of Shepherd University in 2023. He made five appearances (four starts) for the Bears during his rookie season in place of then-Bears QB1 Justin Fields after he suffered a right thumb dislocation during an October 15 game.

For the season, Bagent completed 65.7 percent of his passes for 859 yards, three touchdowns and six interceptions. He also rushed for 109 yards and two scores. Chicago went 2-2 in his starts.

Bagent stuck around last year after the Bears made a QB switch, trading Fields and selecting Caleb Williams with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft.

Williams started all 17 games last season, so Bagent's services weren't needed much. He threw the ball just twice over four appearances, completing both passes for 11 yards.

In November of last season, the Bears parted ways with head coach Matt Eberflus. Chicago is now under a new regime with ex-Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson taking over on the sidelines.

It's clear that Bagent has made an amazing impression on Johnson, as Carman relayed.

"Man, he's been phenomenal," Johnson said in August. "I mean, he's smart as a whip. Appreciate the seriousness and intent that he brings every time he walks into a room. Meeting room, walk-through, it doesn't matter. He's locked in. He's focused. I think his teammates feel that from him. Love the fact (that) he'll throw the ball and he keeps working through his progressions just so it goes home with exactly where everyone's going to be in case he had to move on. I think he's taken this seriously. He's preparing the right way. And I couldn't be more thrilled that he's here with us."

Bears general manager Ryan Poles, who signed Bagent in 2023, remains a fan, as noted on the Chicago vs. Buffalo Bills FOX preseason broadcast last Sunday (h/t Carman).

"Tyson's a stud," Poles said on the FOX broadcast. "There isn't a harder worker on this football team than Tyson Bagent. You can just see with his background coming from Shepherd, always kind of had an underdog vibe to him. And the dude's just gritty, and he's tough and he continues to work and get better every single year."

Given how Johnson and Poles feel about Bagent, it's no surprise he'll be sticking around for a few more seasons at minimum.