Case Keenum almost walked away from the game he loves, ready to hang up his cleats after a brutal 2024 season that saw him sidelined on the Texans’ injured reserve list with a foot injury. When his contract ran out at the end of that year, he fully expected his NFL career was officially over. But then, a phone call came in that changed everything for the veteran quarterback.
Ben Johnson Made the Pitch That Ignited a Spark
That call came from none other than Ben Johnson, who had just stepped into the head coach role for the Bears. Johnson knew he had his young franchise quarterback in Caleb Williams and a promising backup in Tyson Bagent already in the room. But what he clearly wanted, what he *needed*, was a grizzled veteran presence to round out that quarterback corps, and Keenum was his guy. Johnson’s pitch to Keenum wasn’t just about filling a roster spot, it was about showing him a vision. Keenum later revealed on “Pardon My Take” that he was literally in Hawaii for an NFLPA event, contemplating retirement, when his phone buzzed.
“Where Do I Sign? Let’s Freakin’ Do This!”
“I was basically ready to call it quits and be done playing football, and Ben calls me,” Keenum recounted. “I’m in Hawaii at the NFLPA event and I get a call from Ben Johnson. He said, You still want to come play? I was like, Let’s meet and talk about it.” What was supposed to be a quick 15-minute chat turned into a two-and-a-half-hour deep dive into the game. Keenum was absolutely floored by how similar his and Johnson’s philosophies were, how they saw the game on the same level. That conversation wasn’t just a meeting; it was a revelation for Keenum, instantly reigniting his passion. He finished that marathon discussion fired up, saying, “Where do I sign? Let’s freakin’ do this. I’m ready to run through a brick wall for that man.”
So, Keenum is back in the league, ready to bring that veteran leadership to Chicago, all thanks to one persistent coach and a conversation that was supposed to be short. You gotta love when a coach believes in a guy that much, right? It’ll be interesting to see how that veteran presence shapes up a young Bears QB room moving forward.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pro Football Talk.
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