Next Man Up

On September 28, 2026, the Chicago Bears turned to a 38-year-old quarterback who hadn't started an NFL game in almost three years. Their franchise passer was injured. Their backup was in the concussion protocol. Case Keenum threw two touchdown passes, ran for a third, and led Chicago to a win over a team no one thought they could beat.

That night was fourteen years in the making.

NEXT MAN UP traces Keenum's journey from West Texas to Houston, where he set records that scouts dismissed, to the undrafted free-agent contract that started his pro career. It follows the winless starts, the Minneapolis Miracle, the bidding and trading that carried him through eight teams, and a lost season with an injured foot. Along the way it asks a question most sports books skip: what is the value of the player who waits?

Written in clear, reported prose, this is a story about preparation, patience and second chances, for football fans, quarterback watchers and anyone who has ever been told to wait their turn.

If you enjoy narrative sports journalism about the people who work in the margins of the league, this book is for you.

An independent, unauthorized work. Not affiliated with any player, team or league.