Old Vikings Backup QB Lands with Bears
Dustin Baker
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The Chicago Bears are invested in Justin Fields with all-in aspirations, but they signed an old Vikings backup quarterback on Friday for depth.
His name is Trevor Siemian, joining his sixth NFL franchise in eight seasons.
Last season, Siemian started four games for the New Orleans Saints as that organization navigated post-Drew Brees life and a season-ending injury to reclamation project Jameis Winston.
Unfortunately for the Saints, New Orleans lost all four games with Siemian at the helm, so he was not a priority for retention in 2022. Now, the Saints are giving another audition to Winston, who signed a two-year, $28 million deal earlier this week.
Siemian, a journeyman, began his career as “Peyton Manning’s replacement” after the Broncos won the Super Bowl in 2015. Siemian even has ring hardware as Manning and the Broncos toppled the Carolina Panthers in Super Bowl 50.
The following season, Siemian was anointed the starter, leading Denver to a 9-7 record, a third-place finish in the AFC West, and a missed playoff opportunity. He started 10 games the year after that, 2017, but that was it for his experiment as a starter.
Siemian departed Colorado, later becoming a backup quarterback for the Vikings, New York Jets, Tennessee Titans, aforementioned Saints — and now the Chicago Bears.
He enters a crowded room in Chicago, with quarterbacks like Justin Fields, Nick Foles, and Ryan Willis already on the roster.
There’s a reasonable possibility Siemian is just a “camp body” or QB3 who doesn’t reach QB2 on the depth chart. Although, for a backup quarterback, Siemian does have ample starting experience.
Siemian played for the Vikings in 2018, Kirk Cousins’ first year with the franchise. But Cousins never gets injured, so Siemian saw no regular-season playing time.
Siemian and Cousins share the same agent.
The Bears landing Siemian is the second ex-Vikings player to sign a deal with Chicago this week. On Wednesday, new Bears general manager Ryan Poles signed offensive lineman Dakota Dozier, who spent three seasons with the Vikings.
All together, Siemian, 30, has thrown 41 touchdowns to 27 interceptions in 29 career starts.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. His YouTube Channel, VikesNow, debuts in March 2022. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sally from Minneapolis. His Viking fandom dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ and The Doors (the band).
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