Former Bears QB Austin Reed Shines in UFL Debut

Reed breaks UFL passing record in first game with Dallas Renegades

Mar. 29, 2026 at 12:27am

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Two years after being released by the Chicago Bears, former undrafted quarterback Austin Reed has found a new opportunity with the Dallas Renegades of the United Football League (UFL). In his debut game, Reed broke the UFL record for most passing yards in a regular season game, going 27-40 for 376 yards and 3 touchdowns in a 36-17 win over the Houston Gamblers.

Why it matters

Reed's impressive performance in his UFL debut has rekindled hopes that he could get another shot at the NFL level. The Bears have had success developing undrafted quarterbacks in the past, and Reed's former teammate Tyson Bagent is also generating trade interest, showing the value of finding diamonds in the rough at the quarterback position.

The details

After being released by the Bears in 2025, Reed signed with the Dallas Renegades of the UFL. In his first game, he broke the league's single-game passing yardage record, going 27-40 for 376 yards and 3 touchdowns in a 36-17 win over the Houston Gamblers. Reed beat out veteran Luis Perez for the starting job and looks to have a firm grasp on the role going forward.

  • In August 2025, Reed was released by the Chicago Bears and not brought back on the practice squad.
  • On March 29, 2026, Reed made his debut for the Dallas Renegades of the UFL.

The players

Austin Reed

A former undrafted quarterback who spent time with the Chicago Bears before signing with the Dallas Renegades of the UFL.

Tyson Bagent

A quarterback currently on the Chicago Bears roster who has been the subject of trade rumors this offseason.

Case Keenum

A veteran quarterback who beat out Austin Reed for a roster spot with the Bears in 2025.

Rick Neuheisel

The head coach of the Dallas Renegades who named Austin Reed the team's starting quarterback.

Ryan Poles

The general manager of the Chicago Bears who has commented on the trade rumors surrounding Tyson Bagent.

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What they’re saying

“I want to see what Austin can do. I think there's some gifts there, some DNA that's ultra competitive. If he can channel that, keep his calm and be within himself. He's got some tools that I think he should be playing on Sundays.”

— Rick Neuheisel, Head Coach, Dallas Renegades

“All the noise during the combine stuff was not necessarily expected. But as far as this NFL thing has been, you can't expect — everything is unexpected. It was nice to hear my bosses talk [about] me that way. But as far as my thoughts behind it, [they are] that the only thing I need to do is stay ready. And for right now, that seems to [mean] to be the best quarterback I can be for the Bears for another season.”

— Tyson Bagent

“We've gotten a few calls there. Obviously, the tough thing is, what Ben thinks of Tyson, what I think of Tyson, what our locker room thinks about Tyson. That's a really tough decision for us but for Tyson as well, I think he would have the opportunity to go perform for a team and do some really good things but again you have to weigh the short term and long term.”

— Ryan Poles, General Manager, Chicago Bears

What’s next

The Bears will have to decide whether to keep Tyson Bagent or trade him this offseason, while Austin Reed will look to build on his impressive UFL debut and potentially earn another shot in the NFL.

The takeaway

The story of Austin Reed and Tyson Bagent highlights the Bears' ability to uncover quarterback talent, even from undrafted free agents. While Reed's path has taken him to the UFL, Bagent remains on the Bears' roster and could still get his chance in the NFL if the team decides to keep him.