With Justin Fields injured, rookie quarterback Tyson Bagent is set to make his first-career start for the Chicago Bears this weekend. He will face the Las Vegas Raiders.
Bagent, 23, will become just the fourth Division II quarterback over the last 20 years to start a game in the National Football League. It is the ultimate opportunity for someone who was playing college football at a small school in West Virginia just one year ago.
Most fans, on both the college and professional level, do not know who he is. There is one question that a lot of people will ask come Sunday morning.
Who is Tyson Bagent?!
Bagent, a West Virginia-native, is the son of Travis. Travis is a 19-time world arm-wrestling champion with an electric personality who dominated NFL Network insider Tom Pelissero during an incredible segment live from the Senior Bowl.
His son, Tyson, is one of the best football players in the Mountain State’s history. He was named the West Virginia Gatorade Player of the Year after passing for 3,400 yards and 49 touchdowns with just four interceptions as a senior in high school.
With Bagent at the helm, Martinsburg High School won 36 of 39 games en route to two state championships. And yet, only a few FCS schools offered him a scholarship.
In the end, Bagent landed on the Division II at Shepherd University. While there, he completed 68.6% of his passes for 17,034 yards and 159 touchdowns in 53 games over five years. The Rams went 43-10.
Although his entire career was impressive, Bagent was unbelievable in 2021. His 5,000 yards passing and 53 touchdowns led him to win the Harlon Hill Trophy, the D-II Heisman.
Chicago’s new QB1 has so much swag.
Despite his record-breaking numbers, Bagent did not get picked during the 2023 NFL Draft. At that point, he was fully prepared for his football career to come to an end.
If that was the case, Bagent’s back-up plan was simple:
- “Crossfit his life away and get as ripped and jacked as he possibly could.”
- Be a teacher at his high school.
If that didn’t work out, Bagent has been known to spit a few bars in his day.
As of right now, none of those three things will be necessary.
Bagent signed with the Bears as an undrafted free agent in April. He made their 53-man roster at the end of the preseason as the third-string behind Fields and Nathan Peterman.
Chicago later released Peterman. Fields got hurt. Bagent is in.
By all accounts, the Bears love him — and his swagger.
His receivers are big fans thus far.
You could see it when he first walked in, he’s just real cool.
He’s got the arm sleeve, the hair, he’s got the backwards hat with the hair hanging out, got the Dan Marino look. He’s just got that ‘it’ to him in terms of his personality, he’s got that swagger that he walks around with.
I could see it when I first met him. I saw him walk through the door and was like, “This dude, he’s cool. I can have a real conversation with him.'”
— Bears rookie WR Tyler Scott, via NBC Sports Chicago
Same with his offensive line.
Everybody’s got their own little drip, you know what I mean?
He’s got his own little drip. He do what he do, he’s a pretty cool cat.
— Bears OL Darnell Wright, via NBC Sports Chicago
Bagent has his first opportunity to become a legend with his first-career regular season start in the NFL on Sunday. Chicago, at 1-5, will host Las Vegas, at 3-3.