The Chicago Bears played their preseason finale against the Kansas City Chiefs on Friday night in a game filled with theatrics. First-year head coach Ben Johnson's team looked down and out as they trailed by as many as 17 points multiple times; however, the Bears never gave up in the second half, fighting hard for a 29-27 comeback win over the Chiefs.
Although preseason results don't truly matter in the grand scheme of things, the Bears' gutsy performance against the Chiefs has left fans feeling optimistic about the team's outlook. That's especially true for one Chicago veteran who ended the exhibition schedule with a bang.
Bears QB Tyson Bagent Ends Preseason with Bang vs. Chiefs
Bears backup quarterback Tyson Bagent made some waves earlier this week when he was signed to a two-year extension worth up to $16 million. The former Shepherd signal-caller has proven to be a reliable backup option behind QB1 Caleb Williams, which is something Bagent further solidified on Friday night.
Bagent looked like he was in mid-season form once he took over for Williams in the second half. The Martinsburg, WV native went a solid 20-of-28 (71.4%) in the pocket for 212 passing yards, three touchdowns, and a 128.9 passer rating, and even tallied 10 rushing yards on two carries. His performance was a big reason why Chicago outscored Kansas City 19-0 in the fourth quarter and walked away with the win.
Bagent's standout moments came during an 87-yard drive at the end of the game, culminating in a six-yard TD pass to undrafted rookie wideout Jahdae Walker with three seconds remaining.
WALK IT OFF
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) August 23, 2025
📺: FOX 32 pic.twitter.com/pv7M5oKpO9
A starting quarterback is often a team's most important player, but that doesn't mean that backups aren't valuable, too. The Bears would be in a tough spot should Williams miss any amount of time, which is why it's a relief knowing they have a reliable arm in Bagent to call upon should their primary passer become sidelined.
Since heading to the Windy City as a UDFA in 2023, Bagent has gone 2-2 across four starts (9 total appearances) with the Bears. He's completed 96-of-145 (66.2%) attempts for 870 yards, three TDs, six interceptions, and a 71.9 passer rating during that stretch. He's only improved with each passing season, leaving time to tell how high his ceiling will be after his standout preseason performance.
Needless to say, the Bears' future under center is brighter than it has been in a long time.