Bears' Case Keenum Gives 'All Glory to God' after Unlikely Win: 'I'm Not Here Without Him'

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When the season started, Case Keenum was a so-called emergency quarterback on the Chicago Bears’ roster —the type of player a coach puts in the game only if every other option is exhausted. On Monday, though, Keenum was the hero after turning an unlikely opportunity into an unforgettable night.

Keenum went from third-string quarterback to standout on a national ESPN stage after completing 24 of 34 passes for 247 yards and a pair of touchdowns as the Bears upset the favored Philadelphia Eagles 27-7 at Chicago’s Soldier Field.

Keenum was thrust into the starting role after first-string quarterback Caleb Williams suffered a hamstring injury in Week 2 and second-team QB Tyson Bagent sustained a concussion.

That left the 38-year-old Keenum — a journeyman who has played for eight different NFL teams —as the starter.

“I really don't have any words. There's so much emotion — so much that went into this week,” a smiling Keenum told ESPN after the game.

Keenum, one of the NFL’s most outspoken Christians, has long been open about his faith. In 2025, he used the NFL’s My Cause My Cleats initiative to support the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, wearing custom cleats highlighting the Christian sports ministry.

“All glory to God,” Keenum said Monday. “I'm not here without Him. He has put me here, He's made me for this. I'm so thankful for Him. I can't thank Him enough."

“I love this city. This Texas boy loves Chicago. This is a cool spot.”

Keenum was a standout for the University of Houston Cougars and still holds multiple NCAA records, including most career passing yards (19,217), career touchdowns (155, tied with Dillon Gabriel) and most 5,000-yard seasons (three).

His NFL career hasn’t produced the same record-setting numbers, but it has included its share of memorable moments. In 2017, he went 11-3 as Minnesota’s starter, led the Vikings to the NFC Championship Game and finished second in AP Comeback Player of the Year voting. In recent years, he’s made a career out of being a backup.

Monday’s victory was his first as a quarterback in 1,016 days.

He told ESPN he was planning on watching the replay of the game on the couch with his two children.

“Or probably just "Bluey"— they probably won't want to watch it again,” he said, laughing. “They're like, ‘We saw it one time already, Dad.’ But oh man, it's so special. I love my family. My wife, Kimberly, she's been here the whole ride. I wouldn't be here without her.”

The Bears, now 2-1, host the New York Jets on Sunday.

Photo Credit: ©X.com/ESPN - ScreenGrab

Michael Foust has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years. His stories have appeared in Baptist Press, Christianity Today, The Christian Post, the Leaf-Chronicle, the Toronto Star and the Knoxville News-Sentinel. 

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