West Virginia Native Tyson Bagent Puts Journey in Perspective After Leading Bears to Win

At least once every season, Tyson Bagent gets emotional while talking about West Virginia after a solid appearance under center for the Chicago Bears. The first occurrence for 2026 happened on Sunday.

In leading the Bears to a win over a New York Jets team, ironically led by WVU legend Geno Smith, Bagent completed 25-of-34 passes for 268 yards, granted with one interception. He also ran for a yard.

And to no surprise, hearing “Take Me Home, Country Roads” after the game, hit close to home for Bagent.

“I’m just from a small town in West Virginia. Shoutout to Martinsburg, W.Va.,” he said at the open of his postgame press conference. “Don’t ask me questions like this. I already told you I will start crying. But it’s extremely humbling. It’s an arming experience. I really can’t thank enough people. I’m only here because of those that were around me growing up,” Bagent told reporters.

The Martinsburg and Shepherd University product inked a two-year, $10 million contract extension with the Bears on August 10th of last year. Chicago wanted to retain Bagent as top backup option behind Caleb Williams due to his success when under center in his three years in the NFL.

Before 2026, Bagent, 26, appeared in 12 games across three seasons, starting four and going 2-2. He’s completed 66.4% of his passes for 917 yards through the air and another 109 on the ground.

Even though Bagent didn’t garner much attention after wrapping up his college career a Shepherd University, his college statistics were too much to ignore for the NFL to not give him a chance.

In Division II, he threw for 4,580 yards in 2022 and exactly 5,000 yards passing in 2021. Bagent also completed 70% of his passes and tossed 41 touchdowns this past season, totaling 91 the last two years combined.

Find more coverage of Tyson Bagent at WV Sports Now.