Ben Johnson did not want to give the media the satisfaction of being right about who his Chicago Bears would start at quarterback on Sunday.
Reports emerged earlier this week that the Bears would start Tyson Bagent over Case Keenum in Week 4 against the New York Jets at Soldier Field in Chicago, Ill. Johnson did not like that news of Bagent starting broke before he even announced it.
Out of spite, he trotted out both Keenum and Bagent for Chicago’s opening play of the game.
In Ben Johnson fashion, on the first play of the game Case Keenum and Tyson Bagent are on the field for the Bears 📺: FOX/FOX One https://t.co/CX0d442xGE
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) October 4, 2026
“Well, I got all these memos saying that Tyson [Bagent] was starting before I had ever made an announcement,” Johnson said during his postgame press conference. “So I wanted to get Case [Keenum] out there, first time. It was like a ceremonial first pitch, handing off the torch.”
The decision surprised some, considering Keenum’s admirable performance in Caleb Williams’ stead in a Week 3 win. The 38-year-old veteran went 24/32 for 247 yards and 2 touchdowns to beat the Philadelphia Eagles.
Bagent held his own Sunday against the Jets. The 26-year-old tallied 268 passing yards on a 25/34 clip to lead his team to a 23-12 victory.
The Bears’ season appeared to be in serious jeopardy when Williams went down with an injury in Week 2. But Chicago has only improved to 3-1 with Keenum then Bagent starting.
