$54 Million Ex-Vikings QB Joins Rival Team & Instantly Draws Major Praise

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Former Minnesota Vikings QB Case Keenum reacts against the New Orleans Saints.

The Minnesota Vikings continue their trend toward having the youngest starting quarterback in the NFC North in 2025 with J.J. McCarthy. However, one of McCarthy’s predecessors – former Vikings QB Case Keenum – made headlines on Thursday.

Keenum spent the 2024 season with the Houston Texans but landed on injured reserve with a foot injury and did not play.

He signed with the Chicago Bears in free agency this offseason.

“Veteran QB Case Keenum is signing a one-year deal worth up to $3 million with the Chicago Bears, per source,” ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported on X on April 3. “Keenum now will help mentor Caleb Williams in Chicago like he did for CJ Stroud in Houston.”

“He won a key game for the Texans last season, engineering a pivotal overtime victory over the Tennessee Titans when Stroud was sidelined with a concussion,” KPRC 2’s Aaron Wilson wrote on April 3. “Keenum once threw an NCAA-record nine touchdown passes for the Coogs against Rice, finishing his collegiate career with 19,217 yards, 155 touchdowns and 46 interceptions.

“The Brownwood, Texas native has been an inspiration to his teammates, providing strong mentoring. He set all-time records for passing yards, touchdowns and completions at the University of Houston.”

Keenum has also played for the Buffalo Bills, Cleveland Browns, Denver Broncos, Los Angeles/St. Louis Rams and the Washington Commanders organization in his career.

He was an undrafted free agent out of Houston in 2012.

Keenum has thrown for 15,175 yards, 79 touchdowns, and 51 interceptions on 62.3% completion in his career with a 30-36 record as a starter. With $54.8 million in career earnings, Keenum is among the highest-paid undrafted players in NFL history, per Front Office Sports.

He will face the Vikings twice in 2025 as part of a QB room featuring Williams and 2023 undrafted free agent Tyson Bagent, though he is not expected to challenge the latter.