With quarterback Justin Fields still sidelined by a hand injury, on Friday the Bears officially named former Division II standout Tyson Bagent as their starter for Week 7 against the Raiders.
Chicago declared Bagent, an undrafted rookie this past April, the next man up under center less than a week after he filled in for Fields, who suffered a dislocated thumb in Week 6. He gets the nod over veteran backup and former starter Nathan Peterman,.
Given Bagent’s sudden opportunity, many football fans unfamiliar with his name and game will likely have questions, ranging from his past stats to who he even is. With the 23-year-old now set for his first NFL start, here are five things to know about Chicago’s newest QB1:
1. His name is Tyson, not Tyler
... Seriously. Regardless of what your brain may tell you or what your phone suggests: his name is Tyson— yes, like Mike—Bagent, which, for clarity purposes, is pronounced BAY-gent. Granted, it’s more than likely this fact has and still will be forgotten leading up to Sunday, but a big performance would certainly influence that in short order.
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2. Bagent was tabbed to be the Bears’ 29th starting QB since 2000
After years of searching for a franchise QB, the Bears, again, find themselves in an unenviable position of finding a stopgap at the position. For Bagent, the chance to lead Chicago into battle at Soldier Field will add him to the club’s growing list of starters since 2000, a group that includes the likes of Jay Cutler, Mitch Trubisky, Nick Foles and Rex Grossman.
Prior to Bagent’s temporary promotion, the Bears deployed 28 different QBs, with Fields, the 11th pick in ’21, earning starting honors ahead of the ’22 season. It’s unclear how long the latest change will last but, if it’s prolonged, Bagent could also become the 24th QB to start two or more games in that 23-year span.
3. He finished his collegiate career as the NCAA’s all-time leader in touchdown passes
With 159 career TD passes—an NCAA record for all divisions—Bagent solidified his place in college football lore as the star QB of the Shepherd Rams in Shepherdstown, W.Va.
Bagent, a native of nearby Martinsburg, caught the attention of NFL scouts following a five-year career at Shepherd (the Rams did not play in 2020 due to COVID-19), where he garnered a host of accolades and records. After winning the Harlon Hill Trophy, DII’s version of the Heisman Trophy, in 2021, Bagent went on to become DII’s all-time passing yards leader his senior year, finishing with 17,034 yards in 53 career games.
Bagent’s choice to stay at Shepherd over possible transfer options in West Virginia and Maryland proved fruitful as he went on to earn an invite to the Senior Bowl where he was coached by his offensive coordinator with the Bears, Luke Getsy. And, the rest, as they say, is history.
4. Bagent is the son of a 17-time arm wrestling world champion
NFL fans may be new to the Bagent family, but those weary of his arm strength and mental toughness may be excited to know a little more about his genetics.
Bagent’s father, Travis, made his claim to fame as a 17-time arm wrestling world champion across a decades-long career where he’s reportedly viewed as one of the greatest in the sport’s history. Sure, the execution may be different, but who’s to say Tyson didn’t pick up a few pointers on the way from a man known the world over for crushing the competition?
5. He won the Bears’ backup quarterback job after an uncertain summer
If Bagent’s NFL journey were ever depicted in a movie, it would likely begin with a freeze frame scene along with a narrator saying, “You’re probably wondering how I got here…”
In Bagent’s case, he won the backup spot in September after impressing coaches, including Getsy, in training camp and the preseason after signing a deal with Chicago in May. His effort outshined perennial backups Peterman and current Browns QB P.J. Walker, both of whom have started at least five NFL games.
Fast forward to Week 6, Fields’s unexpected injury thrust Bagent into action against the Vikings, leading to an admirable 10-of-14 outing for 83 yards and an interception, and two rushes for four yards and a touchdown in a 19–13 loss.
Now looking to help Chicago revive its season, Bagent, who will be the fourth DII QB in the past 20 years to start a game, made it clear ahead of Sunday’s game he’s ready to leave it all on the field.
“I think my life has been planned out for me ahead of time,” Bagent said Wednesday, per 670 The Score. “I think everything that has happened and will happen was already set in stone to happen. And I think coming from where I come from, I’ve pretty much beat every odd that there was for me. So, I’ve got nothing to lose.”
