Former Vikings Emergency QB1 Quietly Signs with Rival

The Minnesota Vikings have seen some interesting quarterback situations unfold over the past decade, including the past two offseasons. But arguably the wildest QB rollercoaster we have ridden recently started with the drafting of Teddy Bridgewater No. 32 overall back in 2014.
After two years under center, Teddy appeared to be taking the next step in his quarterback development during the 2016 preseason. Until… disaster struck during a late preseason practice. Out of nowhere, news broke that Bridgewater had suffered a knee injury so brutal that not only was his season over, but the moment required fast thinking from then head athletic trainer Eric Sugarman, just to save Teddy B’s leg.
How Case Keenum became the Minnesota Vikings default miracle QB
So on September 3, less than a week after Bridgewater marched up and down the preseason field vs the San Diego Chargers in the Vikings’ third preseason game that year (August 28), then GM Rick Spielman and head coach Mike Zimmer sent a 1st round draft pick tp the Eagles for injury-riddled former No. 1 overall pick, Sam Bradford.

His task? To immediately assume the QB1 role for a playoff caliber MN Vikings team, having arrived in Minnesota just one week prior to the start of the regular season. After two brilliant starts to open the season, Bradford’s body failed him yet again. Enter Case Keenum, who then assumed the QB1 role for the purple.
Unfortunately, the former University of Houston superstar and all-time NCAA career leader in passing yards, touchdowns and completions couldn’t help keep the Minnesota Vikings 2016 ship afloat. He went 4-5 in 9 starts and the Vikings missed the playoffs at 8-8. That brings us to 2017, where Keenum cemented himself in Valhalla forever.
Stefon Diggs may be the player everyone remembers from the Minneapolis Miracle. He caught the pass, he stayed in bounds, he ran up the field, threw his helmet, got mobbed… etc. But it was Case Keenum who threw the miracle pass and who got the Vikings into that position on the field in the first place.
Seven years ago today…
— NFL (@NFL) January 14, 2025
A Miracle took place in Minneapolis. pic.twitter.com/qGPpNPI1yH
Keenum was far from a perfect quarterback, as a Viking. He drew 23 total starts over two seasons, including 14 starts as Minnesota’s main starter in 2017, a season in which he threw for 3,547 yards, 22 touchdowns and only 7 interceptions, far and away the best season of his career.
Keenum signs with Chicago Bears for 2025
Unfortunately, Keenum and Minnesota Vikings flopped the next week in Philadelphia, a loss that resulted in the signing of Kirk Cousins and hiring of John DeFilippo a couple months later.
Nonetheless, Case Keenum has remained in the NFL, since leaving the Vikings. He earned one more starting gig in Denver, the next season, and has since been a backup for four different teams. This year, he’ll add a fifth, after quietly signing with the Chicago Bears for one year and up to $3 million on Thursday.
Veteran QB Case Keenum is signing a one-year deal worth up to $3 million with the Chicago Bears, per source. Keenum now will help mentor Caleb Williams in Chicago like he did for CJ Stroud in Houston. pic.twitter.com/4wDG8s3RRT
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 3, 2025
After spending the last two seasons with the Houston Texans, Keenum takes his talents to another roster where he can help mentor a young quarterback, Caleb Williams. Keenum last played an NFL game when he started twice in the place of C.J. Stroud, in 2023.
He completed 64.2% of his passes in those games, to go with just 1 TD and 3 INTs. Last year, Case Keenum suffered a foot injury that placed him on season-ending injured reserve. The $3 million contract from Chicago is the same amount he made last season with the Texans.
Related: Rival Execs Continue to Question Minnesota Vikings Power Structure
It’s a far cry from the $18 million Denver handed him as a starter following his big year in Minnesota. Still, the journeyman is looking at career earnings nearing $60 million, a number nobody needs to be embarrassed by, no matter the profession. Remember, while he may have set a bunch of college records at Houston, he entered the league undrafted in 2011.
Case Keenum: The young QB mentor
In Chicago, Keenum will join Caleb Williams in the Bears QB room, now operated by first-year head coach Ben Johnson, who is coming over from Detroit and is now tasked with getting the best out of the 2024 first overall pick. Having Keenum there to help should make that job easier.
Keenum has become a favorite for teams looking for a veteran QB to help bring along a young franchise QB. For the Cleveland Browns, he worked with Baker Mayfield. In Buffalo, it was Josh Allen. Then, the aforementioned CJ Stroud and now Caleb Williams.
Keenum will now see his former employer twice in 2025, assuming he makes the final squad out of training camp. It will be a nice little reunion for a guy that certainly has fond memories of U.S. Bank Stadium and the Minnesota Vikings organization, as a whole.
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