Latest news with #Keenum
Chicago Tribune
02-06-2025
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
Case Keenum mentored C.J. Stroud for 2 years. Now he's taking on same role for Caleb Williams with Chicago Bears.
Case Keenum thought he might be done. The 37-year-old journeyman quarterback missed all of last season with the Houston Texans after suffering a foot injury during the preseason. He could see the writing on the wall. After 13 years in the NFL, it might finally be time to give it up. Then the Chicago Bears called. Keenum visited Halas Hall and met with first-year coach Ben Johnson. The meeting was scheduled for 15 minutes, but it felt like several hours flew by. Keenum left with renewed energy and a certainty that his NFL career wasn't over yet. 'I love to play football,' he said. 'I'm basically a big kid. I've never had to grow up.' In some sense that might feel true, but in another sense the Bears brought Keenum to Chicago on a one-year, $3 million contract because he can be the grown-up in the room. The Bears lacked a veteran presence at quarterback last season during a crucial time when No. 1 draft pick Caleb Williams could've used an experienced teammate to lean on. Veteran Brett Rypien served in that role in the spring and throughout training camp, but when the Bears released Rypien after training camp, the Minnesota Vikings swooped in and signed Rypien to their active roster. That left the Bears with Williams, second-year backup Tyson Bagent and practice-squad rookie Austin Reed as the only quarterbacks in the building throughout the regular season. Bagent was the only one of that trio who had any previous NFL experience. All three return in 2025, but adding a veteran to the group became paramount. Keenum enters the mix with a long list of NFL experiences. He went undrafted coming out of Houston in 2012 despite setting FBS career records for completions, passing yards and touchdown passes — records that still stand. He spent time with the Texans and Rams before breaking out with the Vikings in 2017. Keenum took over for an injured Sam Bradford early in that season and led the Vikings to a 13-3 record and an appearance in the NFC championship game. That playoff run included the memorable 'Minneapolis Miracle' in which Keenum connected with Stefon Diggs for a 61-yard touchdown on the final play to beat the New Orleans Saints. Since then, Keenum has bounced from Denver to Washington to Cleveland to Buffalo, back to Houston and now to Chicago. Along the way, he has been a backup and mentor for the likes of Baker Mayfield, Josh Allen and C.J. Stroud. 'He's been to playoff games,' Johnson said. 'He's won playoff games. He's done it on a high level. He's been the No. 2 quarterback at a number of different places as well. So his experience level is off the charts. He's seen a little bit of everything that this league has to offer.' In Williams, Keenum sees a young quarterback who oozes talent and has 'a chance to be a lot better' than his rookie season indicated. 'He's just a sponge,' Keenum said. 'For being an all-world talent, a guy who has, since high school, been the best player on any field anywhere he has ever stepped on, to be humble enough to ask me questions and watch and learn has been really refreshing to see.' Photos: What we saw at Chicago Bears OTAsDuring organized team activities this spring, Keenum has taken reps with the second-team offense. Johnson has been adamant there's no depth chart yet and he won't build one until training camp starts in July. But it feels notable that Keenum is taking reps with the twos ahead of Bagent, even if it's simply a matter of seniority. After missing all of last season, Keenum hasn't appeared in an NFL game since making two starts in place of Stroud in 2023. He has appeared in 13 games, with four starts, over the last five years. More importantly, though, Keenum is here to be a resource for Williams. That's especially crucial this time of year. Per the NFL's collective bargaining agreement, coaches can work with players for only a certain number of hours per day during the spring. There are no restrictions, however, on how much time players can spend with each other. Keenum can essentially function as an extension of the coaching staff. 'It's just talking ball,' Keenum said. 'It's getting to know each other. That's what the spring is for. First of all, getting to know each other and speaking the same language, but then getting into the weeds a little bit of how to play quarterback and what that looks like.' Keenum had a front-row seat to Stroud's rookie season in 2023, when the Texans QB won the Offensive Rookie of the Year award. Keenum believes Stroud should've been in the conversation for MVP that year (he tied for eighth). The Bears, notably, passed on a chance to draft Stroud when they traded away the No. 1 pick in 2023. That decision led them to Williams a year later. Keenum loved watching Stroud excel as a rookie and called him 'a special player.' Keenum's two years in Houston showed him he doesn't have to be the starter to make an impact. 'I learned that it's really fun to lead from behind, not necessarily be the one out front but helping to support the guy who is leading in front,' Keenum said. That's a role he's happy to continue in Chicago.
USA Today
31-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Bears HC Ben Johnson explains how valuable Case Keenum has been
Bears HC Ben Johnson explains how valuable Case Keenum has been The Chicago Bears have rolled with undrafted free agent Tyson Bagent as their backup quarterback for the past two seasons. But this offseason they decided to bring in competition with the signing of journeyman Case Keenum, who's the most experienced quarterback the team has had over the past couple of seasons. During his 13-year NFL career, Keenum has played for eight different teams, including multiple stints with the Houston Texans, where he started his career, and the St. Louis/Los Angeles Rams. Keenum entered the league as an undrafted free agent back in 2012, and has thrown for over 15,000 yards and 79 touchdowns in his career. His best season came in 2017 with the Minnesota Vikings, when he led them to the NFC Championship Game. Bringing in a veteran like Keenum will not only help Williams but will also help new Bears head coach Ben Johnson with getting down communication and helping install his offensive scheme. Johnson explained how he feels Keenum will be able to help Williams, and how he feels the work between the two has been productive already. "Case has been phenomenal," Johnson said. "I haven't been with him in the past, but he came highly recommended from a number of people that I trust. He's got skins on the wall. I mean, he's been to playoff games, he's won playoff games. He's done it at a high level. He's been the number two quarterback at a number of different places as well. His experience level is off the charts. He's seen a little bit of everything that this league has to offer. "I can say from my experience of being in the room with him, he finds a good way to ask questions that I might not, or Declan or J.T. – we might not have provided the answer to prior. He does a good job of filling those gaps. And then of course, we're constrained so much by the time limits in the springtime that he's able to help the process when we're not in there as coaches." Keenum not only fills a spot on the roster and in the quarterbacks room, but as Johnson explained, Keenum has also served as extension of the Bears coaching staff. They'll need all the tools available to them this offseason, leading into training camp and the regular season. And with coaches having limited communication with players, a rapport between Williams and Keenum could go a long way for both quarterbacks and their new coaching staff. Follow Bears Wire on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
How Bears QB Caleb Williams is already benefiting from Case Keenum
The Chicago Bears have done everything they can to set up quarterback Caleb Williams for success in his second season. From hiring an offensive genius in Ben Johnson as head coach to fortifying the offensive line to continuing to add weapons, the sky's the limit for the former No. 1 pick in 2025. One of the quieter impact additions this offseason has been the signing of veteran quarterback Case Keenum, who previously served as a mentor for Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud. The Keenum signing was intentional, as it adds a veteran in a young quarterback room consisting of Williams, Tyson Bagent and Austin Reed. Advertisement And according to Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer, Williams is already benefiting from Keenum's presence in the quarterback room this offseason as he's using the 14-year veteran as an additional coach after hours. The Bears adding Case Keenum to the quarterback room was, indeed, intentional, and Williams has taken advantage of it, in using Keenum almost as another coach after hours (to work around the CBA-mandated limits on what the coaches can actually do with the players at this point in the calendar). And, on the field, Williams has been good for at least one 'did he really do that?' throw every day. It's only May, and the pads won't come on until July, but Williams is doing everything he can to improve from a mental standpoint, as well as on-field reps during OTAs. And there are no shortage of offensive voices in the room between Johnson, offensive coordinator Declan Doyle, quarterbacks coach J.T. Barrett and Keenum. While Keenum isn't guaranteed the backup quarterback job -- as he'll compete with Bagent -- there's no doubt he'll prove to be a valuable addition as he serves as another coach for a young, developing quarterback in Williams. Follow Bears Wire on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: How Bears QB Caleb Williams is already benefiting from Case Keenum
USA Today
28-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
How Bears QB Caleb Williams is already benefiting from Case Keenum
How Bears QB Caleb Williams is already benefiting from Case Keenum The Chicago Bears have done everything they can to set up quarterback Caleb Williams for success in his second season. From hiring an offensive genius in Ben Johnson as head coach to fortifying the offensive line to continuing to add weapons, the sky's the limit for the former No. 1 pick in 2025. One of the quieter impact additions this offseason has been the signing of veteran quarterback Case Keenum, who previously served as a mentor for Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud. The Keenum signing was intentional, as it adds a veteran in a young quarterback room consisting of Williams, Tyson Bagent and Austin Reed. And according to Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer, Williams is already benefiting from Keenum's presence in the quarterback room this offseason as he's using the 14-year veteran as an additional coach after hours. The Bears adding Case Keenum to the quarterback room was, indeed, intentional, and Williams has taken advantage of it, in using Keenum almost as another coach after hours (to work around the CBA-mandated limits on what the coaches can actually do with the players at this point in the calendar). And, on the field, Williams has been good for at least one 'did he really do that?' throw every day. It's only May, and the pads won't come on until July, but Williams is doing everything he can to improve from a mental standpoint, as well as on-field reps during OTAs. And there are no shortage of offensive voices in the room between Johnson, offensive coordinator Declan Doyle, quarterbacks coach J.T. Barrett and Keenum. While Keenum isn't guaranteed the backup quarterback job -- as he'll compete with Bagent -- there's no doubt he'll prove to be a valuable addition as he serves as another coach for a young, developing quarterback in Williams. Follow Bears Wire on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Former Vikings Emergency QB1 Quietly Signs with Rival
The Minnesota Vikings have seen some interesting quarterback situations unfold over the past decade, including the past two offseasons. But arguably the wildest QB rollercoaster we have ridden recently started with the drafting of Teddy Bridgewater No. 32 overall back in 2014. After two years under center, Teddy appeared to be taking the next step in his quarterback development during the 2016 preseason. Until… disaster struck during a late preseason practice. Out of nowhere, news broke that Bridgewater had suffered a knee injury so brutal that not only was his season over, but the moment required fast thinking from then head athletic trainer Eric Sugarman, just to save Teddy B's leg. How Case Keenum became the Minnesota Vikings default miracle QB So on September 3, less than a week after Bridgewater marched up and down the preseason field vs the San Diego Chargers in the Vikings' third preseason game that year (August 28), then GM Rick Spielman and head coach Mike Zimmer sent a 1st round draft pick tp the Eagles for injury-riddled former No. 1 overall pick, Sam Bradford. Credit: James Lang-Imagn Images His task? To immediately assume the QB1 role for a playoff caliber MN Vikings team, having arrived in Minnesota just one week prior to the start of the regular season. After two brilliant starts to open the season, Bradford's body failed him yet again. Enter Case Keenum, who then assumed the QB1 role for the purple. Advertisement Unfortunately, the former University of Houston superstar and all-time NCAA career leader in passing yards, touchdowns and completions couldn't help keep the Minnesota Vikings 2016 ship afloat. He went 4-5 in 9 starts and the Vikings missed the playoffs at 8-8. That brings us to 2017, where Keenum cemented himself in Valhalla forever. Stefon Diggs may be the player everyone remembers from the Minneapolis Miracle. He caught the pass, he stayed in bounds, he ran up the field, threw his helmet, got mobbed… etc. But it was Case Keenum who threw the miracle pass and who got the Vikings into that position on the field in the first place. Keenum was far from a perfect quarterback, as a Viking. He drew 23 total starts over two seasons, including 14 starts as Minnesota's main starter in 2017, a season in which he threw for 3,547 yards, 22 touchdowns and only 7 interceptions, far and away the best season of his career. Keenum signs with Chicago Bears for 2025 Unfortunately, Keenum and Minnesota Vikings flopped the next week in Philadelphia, a loss that resulted in the signing of Kirk Cousins and hiring of John DeFilippo a couple months later. Advertisement Nonetheless, Case Keenum has remained in the NFL, since leaving the Vikings. He earned one more starting gig in Denver, the next season, and has since been a backup for four different teams. This year, he'll add a fifth, after quietly signing with the Chicago Bears for one year and up to $3 million on Thursday. After spending the last two seasons with the Houston Texans, Keenum takes his talents to another roster where he can help mentor a young quarterback, Caleb Williams. Keenum last played an NFL game when he started twice in the place of C.J. Stroud, in 2023. He completed 64.2% of his passes in those games, to go with just 1 TD and 3 INTs. Last year, Case Keenum suffered a foot injury that placed him on season-ending injured reserve. The $3 million contract from Chicago is the same amount he made last season with the Texans. Advertisement Related: Rival Execs Continue to Question Minnesota Vikings Power Structure It's a far cry from the $18 million Denver handed him as a starter following his big year in Minnesota. Still, the journeyman is looking at career earnings nearing $60 million, a number nobody needs to be embarrassed by, no matter the profession. Remember, while he may have set a bunch of college records at Houston, he entered the league undrafted in 2011. Case Keenum: The young QB mentor In Chicago, Keenum will join Caleb Williams in the Bears QB room, now operated by first-year head coach Ben Johnson, who is coming over from Detroit and is now tasked with getting the best out of the 2024 first overall pick. Having Keenum there to help should make that job easier. Advertisement Keenum has become a favorite for teams looking for a veteran QB to help bring along a young franchise QB. For the Cleveland Browns, he worked with Baker Mayfield. In Buffalo, it was Josh Allen. Then, the aforementioned CJ Stroud and now Caleb Williams. Keenum will now see his former employer twice in 2025, assuming he makes the final squad out of training camp. It will be a nice little reunion for a guy that certainly has fond memories of U.S. Bank Stadium and the Minnesota Vikings organization, as a whole.
