Bears Urged to Reunite With QB After Record-Breaking Performance

Austin Reed's historic UFL debut has some calling for his return to Chicago's QB room.

Mar. 30, 2026 at 1:03am

The Chicago Bears have a solid quarterback depth chart, but bringing back former undrafted free agent Austin Reed this offseason could make sense. Reed, now the starting QB for the Dallas Renegades in the UFL, recently set a league record with 376 passing yards and 3 touchdowns in a win. With the Bears' current QB2 Tyson Bagent potentially on the trade block, and veteran Case Keenum not a long-term solution as QB3, some are suggesting the Bears should consider reuniting with Reed, who knows the system and has proven he can play at the NFL level.

Why it matters

The Bears have a talented young starter in Caleb Williams, but maintaining quality depth at quarterback is crucial for any contending team. Reed's impressive UFL debut has put him back on the radar, and with potential changes coming to the Bears' QB room, bringing back a familiar face like Reed could provide valuable insurance and competition behind Williams.

The details

Austin Reed joined the Bears as an undrafted free agent in 2024 and spent two seasons with the team. He is now the starting quarterback for the Dallas Renegades in the UFL, where he recently set a league record with 376 passing yards and 3 touchdowns in a win over the Houston Gamblers. The Bears' current QB2, Tyson Bagent, has been the subject of trade buzz and could potentially be dealt, while veteran Case Keenum is not a long-term solution as QB3. Bringing back the 26-year-old Reed, who is familiar with the Bears' system, could provide valuable depth and competition behind starter Caleb Williams.

  • Reed set the UFL passing yards record on March 25, 2026.
  • Reed joined the Bears as an undrafted free agent in 2024 and spent two seasons with the team.

The players

Austin Reed

A 26-year-old quarterback who joined the Chicago Bears as an undrafted free agent in 2024 and is now the starting quarterback for the Dallas Renegades in the UFL.

Caleb Williams

The Chicago Bears' starting quarterback, selected with the 1st overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.

Tyson Bagent

The Chicago Bears' current QB2, who signed a $10 million extension and is under contract for the next two years.

Case Keenum

A 38-year-old veteran quarterback who the Bears re-signed this offseason to be their QB3.

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What they’re saying

“If the Bears decided to move on from Bagent, that would swing the door wide open for Reed to come back and take the third-string job behind Keenum.”

— Anthony Miller, FanSided Writer

What’s next

The Bears will likely revisit their quarterback depth chart this offseason, and Reed's impressive UFL performance could put him back in the mix for a roster spot, especially if Tyson Bagent is traded.

The takeaway

The Bears have a talented young starter in Caleb Williams, but maintaining quality depth at quarterback is crucial. Bringing back a familiar face like Austin Reed, who has proven he can play at the NFL level, could provide valuable insurance and competition behind Williams as the Bears look to solidify their QB room for the future.