The backup quarterback position might be one of the most important positions in football, and the Chicago Bears understand this better than anyone.
Chicago has been spoiled by having Tyson Bagent in that role since 2023, and he has been successful. This offseason is different for the position, though, as the Bears are getting calls to trade for Bagent, while the team prepares for a change by re-signing veteran quarterback Case Keenum.
The Bears also just showed this in the latest report from PFSN's Jacob Infante, who said they will be hosting Rutgers quarterback and draft prospect Athan Kaliakmanis as one of their local prospect visits. Kaliakmanis threw for 8,604 passing yards and 65 total touchdowns in his four seasons with Minnesota and Rutgers.
Bears will bring in Athan Kaliakmanis
Kaliakmanis is looked at as a Day 3 prospect in the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft. He has shown throughout his college career to be an efficient starter and a winner at both schools he played for. The arm strength is there, and the leadership quality is there as well.
While he ran less late in his college career, Kaliakmanis can use his legs when he needs to. The Bears would have to work on some small mechanical things with his throwing motion and technique to get him at the level that head coach Ben Johnson would like to see in his quarterbacks.
Not a lot of NFL draft experts are talking about Kaliakmanis as a quarterback who can have a successful career in the league, but being in Johnson's offensive scheme would be perfect. Plus, Kaliakmanis can sit behind Caleb Williams and Keenum and learn from two really good quarterbacks.
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The Bears would love to have a young quarterback to develop, and Kaliakmanis might be the perfect one for Johnson.