Bears sign notable veteran QB to mentor Caleb Williams

23-year-old Caleb Williams is getting a new 37-year-old mentor.

Adam Schefter of ESPN reported Thursday that the Chicago Bears are signing veteran quarterback Case Keenum to a one-year deal. Keenum’s deal will be worth up to $3 million, Schefter adds.

The 11-year NFL veteran Keenum now heads to his eighth career team. He has 66 total starts under his belt and had a memorable moment in the spotlight during the 2017 season with the Minnesota Vikings. With Teddy Bridgewater still sidelined thanks to a severe leg injury, Keenum won the starting job from Sam Bradford and led Minnesota to a 13-3 record that year. He was also responsible for throwing the “Minneapolis Miracle” to Stefon Diggs, giving the Vikings a berth in the NFC Championship Game (which they have not been back to since).

These days though, Keenum is much more of an elder statesman. He has been a backup since 2020 campaign and spent the last two seasons on the roster of the Houston Texans.

In Houston, Keenum served as a mentor to another young quarterback, Texans star CJ Stroud. But Keenum had to spend all of 2024 on injured reserve after suffering an injury during a preseason game last August.

As for Williams, the No. 1 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, he spent his rookie year in Chicago with Tyson Bagent, 24, serving as his primary backup. Bagent is still on the roster, but Williams should benefit from having a much more seasoned understudy around as well in Keenum, who always has good nuggets of wisdom to share.