Chicago Bears 2026 Roster Turnover: Will The Qb Room Stay The Same?

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - JANUARY 18: Case Keenum #11 embraces quarterback Caleb Williams #18 of the Chicago Bears prior to the NFL divisional playoff football game against the Los Angeles Rams at Soldier Field on January 18, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Kara Durrette/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Heading into year two of the Ben Johnson era, the Chicago Bears’ offense is coming off top ten production in points scored and yards, and every returning starter is under contract. That doesn’t mean there won’t be any changes, but continuity will be a key for the offense to take another step.

Chicago’s defense, however, needs some work.

In my 13-part roster turnover series, I’ll look at each position group with an eye toward the 2026 season, and I’ll kick things off with the quarterbacks. In this series, I’ll spotlight each player’s current contract length, their place on the roster next season, and some possible free-agent or draft additions the Bears could make at the position group.

Here’s how Chicago’s QB room currently shapes up.

Caleb Williams – Signed through 2027* – The Bears have a franchise quarterback who is pushing for top ten status at the position in the NFL — is a sentence I’ve ever typed in my life.

Williams, who turned 24 three months ago, just had one of the most exciting and prolific years any quarterback has ever had in Chicago, and there’s so much room to grow in the offense.

He had a solid rookie season but had a few glaring holes in his game, most notably his deep-ball accuracy and his tendency to take sacks. In year two, those two areas of his game improved drastically. Heading into year three, and the second in Ben Johnson’s offense, Caleb has highlighted his accuracy and footwork as two areas he wants to work on this offseason.

“Being able to be in the offense for a year, being able to be comfortable in the offense now, being able to go back and look at things I could have done better,” Williams said last month via ESPN. “Was I too far forward? Was I too far back? Was I not consistent enough with my footwork? Did I lean off and fall off the mound is what we call it. It’s just super small things to be able to be more consistent for the guys, for the team. Be able to keep the offense on the field as long as possible and be as efficient as possible.”

*The fifth-year option is available for the 2028 season.

Tyson Bagent – Signed through 2027 – The Bears signed Bagent to a two-year contract extension back in August, worth $10 million and up to a possible $16 million with incentives. Chicago could have allowed him to play out his deal and tendered him an offer as a restricted free agent this offseason, but they valued their homegrown UDFA and wanted to ensure a quality backup plan past his RFA deal.

Case Keenum – Free agent – Ben Johnson understood the importance of a veteran quarterback in the room, and Keenum fit right in. Keenum, who turns 38 in a few days, may not want to keep playing, but if he wants to stay in the game, a transition to coaching makes sense. He’s played for nine franchises, so his rolodex of contacts is pretty big, and if he and his family enjoyed their year in the Windy City, sticking around Johnson would do wonders for a potential coaching career.

2026 OUTLOOK – The Bears have their guy at quarterback and a QB2 they are very comfortable with, but if Ben wants a similar room, he’ll get a savvy veteran.

If Keenum wants to keep playing, and he can physically still go, bringing him back on another one-year deal makes sense, but if not, they’ll need to find a veteran content with being the QB3, because money dictates they intend to have Bagent as the number two.

Josh Johnson (40 years old) or Brandon Allen (34) could fit as the veteran number three, and depending on his market, 37-year-old Tyrod Taylor could be looking for a gig to close out his career.

Considering they had four last offseason, the Bears could add a fourth quarterback for camp as a UDFA or a younger street free agent. Last offseason’s number four, Austin Reed, recently signed with the Dallas Renegades of the UFL.

What do you think will happen at QB this offseason?