The Minnesota Vikings are continuing their recent pattern of starting the youngest quarterback in the NFC North, now with J.J. McCarthy set to lead the team in 2025. Meanwhile, a former Vikings quarterback has made headlines.
He spent the 2024 season with the Houston Texans but missed the year due to a foot injury that landed him on injured reserve, has signed with the Chicago Bears in free agency.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter on April 3, “Veteran QB Case Keenum is signing a one-year deal worth up to $3 million.
Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 added, “Case Keenum secured a crucial overtime win for the Texans last season against the Tennessee Titans while Stroud was sidelined with a concussion.” He also noted Keenum’s storied college career at the University of Houston, where he once threw nine touchdown passes in a game against Rice and finished with 19,217 passing yards, 155 touchdowns, and 46 interceptions. Keenum has long been admired for his leadership and mentorship, as well as for setting NCAA records in passing yards, touchdowns, and completions.
Throughout his NFL journey, Keenum has played for the Buffalo Bills, Cleveland Browns, Denver Broncos, Los Angeles/St. Louis Rams, and Washington Commanders. He entered the league in 2012 as an undrafted free agent from Houston.
Over his professional career, Keenum has thrown for 15,175 yards, 79 touchdowns, and 51 interceptions, completing 62.3% of his passes. With a 30-36 record as a starter and $54.8 million in career earnings, he ranks among the highest-paid undrafted players in NFL history, according to Front Office Sports.
Keenum is expected to serve as a veteran presence in a Bears quarterback room that includes Caleb Williams and 2023 undrafted free agent Tyson Bagent. While he’s not expected to compete for a starting job, Keenum will face his former team, the Vikings, twice during the 2025 season.
Case Keenum Holds Iconic Place in Vikings History
Case Keenum, now 37, had a standout season with the Vikings in 2017. He completed 67.6% of his passes for 3,547 yards, throwing 22 touchdowns and just 7 interceptions, helping lead the team to an 11-3 record as the starter.
That season, Keenum guided the Vikings to the NFC Championship Game, thanks in part to his unforgettable game-winning touchdown pass to Stefon Diggs against the New Orleans Saints—a play famously known as the “Minneapolis Miracle.”
The Vikings’ playoff run ended in the NFC title game with a 38-7 loss to the eventual Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles. In that postseason stretch, Keenum completed 60.2% of his passes for 589 yards, two touchdowns, and three interceptions—two of which came in the loss to Philly.
Since then, Kirk Cousins—now with the Atlanta Falcons—has been the only Vikings quarterback to win a playoff game, leading Minnesota to the Divisional Round in 2022. However, the franchise hasn’t returned to the NFC Championship Game since that memorable 2017 season with Keenum under center.
Case Keenum in Familiar Spot Behind Bears’ Caleb Williams
Williams, the top pick in the 2024 draft, is firmly established as the starting quarterback for his second NFL season. However, Dan Pizzuta of The 33rd Team playfully suggested that Case Keenum could challenge Williams for the starting role.
“Caleb Williams, start looking for a realtor,” Pizzuta wrote on X on April 3. “Because Case Keenum can play.”
Despite this, Keenum is expected to continue in his role as a mentor, something Williams didn’t have last season.
Keenum is no stranger to this position. He has previously mentored other former No. 1 overall picks, such as Jared Goff (2016) and Sam Bradford (2017). He also guided Dwayne Haskins, a young quarterback from the Washington Commanders (2019), through his early career.
In addition to his mentoring roles, Keenum has started in Week 1 three times and has stepped in as the starting quarterback multiple times during a season, offering him a wealth of experience to draw from.