When [Keenum signed with the Bears in March of 2025](https://www.chicagobears.com/news/case-keenum-excited-to-continue-nfl-career-in-chicago), after spending the 2024 season on injured reserve in Houston and not knowing if he'd play in the NFL again, it was clear that part of his role in Chicago would be to help mentor young quarterbacks Caleb Williams and Tyson Bagent. Even so, general manager Ryan Poles and coach Ben Johnson believed the veteran could also still play at a high level if needed.
Watching that belief come to fruition Monday night, as the Bears rebounded from their rainy Week 2 loss to the Vikings, was rewarding for Johnson and everyone else involved in bringing Keenum to Chicago.
"I think it's all about Case Keenum and what he was able to do here tonight," Johnson said. "I thought he did an extraordinary job. When the running game's not going, as a play caller, being able to lean into the passing game, knowing that our guys are trying to protect for him, he's going to get the ball out and go to the right guy in time, take care of the football, good decisions.
"He just played really efficient football, and I couldn't be prouder of him for that."
With Williams sidelined due to the hamstring injury he sustained last Sunday and Bagent in concussion protocol to start the week, Keenum was the only QB on the active roster to practice Wednesday and Friday. While Bagent ended up being active Monday as a backup, Keenum's full week of preparation gave Johnson and the locker room confidence he was ready to step up.
"Obviously, his leadership, his ability to bring other guys along," guard Jonah Jackson said, I mean, he's just able to dot things up. It's second nature at this point. It's special."
"He's just such a stone-cold killer, a vet," tight end Colston Loveland said. "He does everything the right way. You can tell he's done this for a long time."
There was no shortage of moments in which Keenum displayed those traits Monday night. While the Bears opened the game with a drive that culminated in Keenum completing a shovel pass to receiver Luther Burden III for a touchdown, the veteran QB was able to maintain momentum through the ebbs and flows of the game.
After a pair of scoreless drives, Keenum delivered back-to-back 20+-yard passes to Burden and Rome Odunze while under pressure to jumpstart a second-quarter possession that resulted in a field goal. Keenum completed 5 of 7 passes for 75 yards on the drive, which also included a 15-yard completion to Odunze and a 13-yard pass to Raymond. In the third quarter, Keenum led both a field goal drive and a second TD drive, which was capped off when he connected with receiver Kalif Raymond for a 41-yard score that put the Bears up 20-7.
While Keenum was certainly the star of the show, he gave credit to the Bears' offensive line for holding the Eagles' pass rush at bay, the pass catchers for getting open and, of course, Johnson, for not just verbalizing trust in him, but showing it with action.
"He's one of the best," Keenum said. "I mean, he's the best play caller, play designer, game planner I've been around. It was fun to do it at this stage of my career where I see the game a lot like him. And that really helps to execute it how he sees it. Means a lot."
While Keenum displayed what both Jackson and Loveland described as his "gunslinger" abilities, his most electric play covered just one yard — an old-school QB sneak touchdown that iced the win.
"That was awesome," Odunze said. "That was the cherry on top right there. Great day, and to finish it off that way, he deserves it."