Football’s final four
Former coaches say it’s no surprise former UH standout has excelled under adversity on his climb to the spotlight
Case Keenum’s long journey finally has brought him gridiron acclaim.
Minnesota quarterback Case Keenum took a meandering route to NFL immortality, but the hardscrabble journey was worth the time and effort he invested to get within one step of Super Bowl LII.
Starting for a winning team for the first time since he set NCAA records at the University of Houston, Keenum earned universal praise for his 61-yard touchdown pass to Stefon Diggs that gave the Vikings a 29-24 victory over New Orleans in an NFC divisional-round game last Sunday.
When Diggs scored with no time remaining to shock the New Orleans Saints and catapult the Vikings into the NFC championship game at Philadelphia, four of Kennum’s former coaches and biggest fans celebrated his history-making throw now known as the Miracle of Minneapolis.
“Good things happen to good people, and they’re happening now for Case,” former Texans coach Gary Kubiak said. “That was such an incredible ending. It was a miracle, the coolest thing in the world. I was so happy for Case that he was able to pull it off.”
Kubiak, Bill O’Brien, Kliff Kingsbury and Jeff Fisher have something in common: They coached Keenum at different stages of his career, and they marvel at the hard work that has allowed him to overcome so many obstacles and enjoy his most rewarding season since leaving UH after the 2011 season.
Last week, Kubiak, O’Brien, Kingsbury and Fisher were asked what it is about Keenum that has allowed him to excel this season as the ultimate underdog, and why do his teammates have a knack for making big plays for him?
At 29, Keenum is 12-3 as a starter at Minnesota since replacing the injured Sam Bradford. Keenum has flourished under offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur.
“That was his big moment,” said Kingsbury, the Texas Tech coach. “That play, that game and this opportunity (to reach the Super Bowl) are all about the hard work. He’s earned everything the hard way.”
At UH, Kingsbury coached Keenum for four seasons, the last two as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.
“He didn’t get drafted, and he got cut,” Kingsbury said. “But he played well at times for teams that weren’t good.”
‘Needed the right opportunity’
Keenum has been cut by the Texans and Rams, claimed on waivers (Rams), been on two practice squads (Texans and Rams), traded for a seventh-round pick (Texans to Rams), benched for Jared Goff (Rams) and told he wasn’t wanted anymore (Rams).
“I’m one that always thought he could do it, but he needed the right opportunity,” Kingsbury said. “Now he’s on a good team with a good supporting cast. If he can stay in the same offense for a while, there’s no telling what Case can accomplish.
“The reason he’s where he is, first and foremost, is his work ethic. He wants to be great. His presence among his teammates is as good as I’ve ever seen. He never judges people or acts like he’s above them. He treats everybody the same, and guys want to make plays for him.”
After he left the Cougars, Keenum was signed to the Texans’ practice squad in 2012 after he wasn’t drafted. In 2013, Kubiak’s last season, Keenum was 0-8 as a starter.
“Case played well, but we couldn’t win a close game,” said Kubiak, who works in Denver’s personnel department after retiring from coaching. “One thing I learned about Case is that he’s such a mentally strong person.
“He’s a strong Christian. He can handle any type of locker room and any kind of teammate. That’s why he’s successful. He’s very consistent on and off the field. His teammates respect that.”
After beginning his career with those eight consecutive defeats as a starter, Keenum is 21-10.
“A lot of guys would just go in the tank with a start like that, but Case kept battling because that’s the kind of guy he is,” Kubiak said. “He’s very comfortable in his own skin.
“I don’t care who he plays for, you’re not going to put Case in an uncomfortable situation. He’s got a lot of confidence in who he is and how he carries himself. Guys respond to that.”
Keenum is taking advantage of his shot. Minnesota signed him to a one-year, $2 million deal to back up Bradford. It will cost the Vikings a lot more to keep him.
“When you have success like he’s having, that carries all the weight in the world,” Kubiak said. “He’s setting the stage for a nice payday for himself. I think he’s going to be a hot item.”
O’Brien inherited Keenum in 2014, his first season as the Texans’ coach. Keenum was waived in the last roster reduction to 53 and claimed by the Rams.
With two games left in the season, the Texans signed Keenum off the Rams’ practice squad. When general manager Rick Smith called agent Jeff Nalley about signing Keenum to replace the injured Ryan Fitzpatrick and Tom Savage, the quarterback was hunting deer in Missouri.
O’Brien tailored his game plan to suit Keenum’s skill set.
“He came here from a deer stand,” O’Brien said. “We trained him for three days, and we beat Baltimore and Jacksonville.”
And Keenum’s legend grew in Houston.
“When we brought him back after not having him for (3½) months, he remembered everything,” O’Brien said. “He didn’t miss a beat as far as knowing what to do.”
O’Brien isn’t surprised Keenum has been making big plays this season. He gets the best out of his teammates.
“There’s something about Case,” O’Brien said about his appeal to teammates. “As soon as he went into the locker room for the first time after we brought him back, the players were like, ‘Case, what’s up? Case, how ya doin’ and ‘Case, it’s good to have you back.’ Everybody just loves the guy.
“It’s the type of guy he is. He’s a really good person, a bright kid who works hard and has a great way about him. He’s a football junkie, a guy that’s very upbeat, positive and poised.
“This is great to see everything happen for Case. I’m so happy for him.”
Winding road to Minnesota
Fisher, who was fired late in the 2016 season by the Rams, coached Keenum for almost three seasons.
In 2014, the Rams claimed Keenum when the Texans waived him. They waived him to sign him to the practice squad before he returned to Houston. After that season, they sent a seventh-round pick to the Texans to get him back.
In 2015, Keenum played behind Nick Foles, the Eagles quarterback he’ll oppose Sunday. The Rams acquired Foles from Philadelphia in a trade and named him as the starter. He was benched during the season and replaced by Keenum.
Before training camp in 2016, Foles was released and signed with Kansas City.
In the Rams’ last four games in St. Louis, Keenum was 3-1 as a starter. In their first four games in Los Angeles, he was 3-1 as a starter. Eventually, Fisher elevated Jared Goff, the first overall pick in the draft.
Like just about everyone outside the Vikings’ huddle, Fisher thought the Saints had won the game because they were leading 24-23 with 10 seconds left. Minnesota had the ball at its 39-yard line, time for one last desperation pass by Keenum.
“I felt bad for Case and all the Vikings’ fans when they fell behind with 10 seconds left and no timeouts and needing a field goal,” Fisher said. “There was no opportunity for them to win the game unless there was a pass interference penalty. The likelihood of there being a pass interference penalty, especially when everyone knew they were trying to get the ball to the sideline and stop the clock, wasn’t very high.”
Then Keenum and Diggs collaborated on a pass that will be part of history.
“I think Case got into the perfect situation,” Fisher said. “You have to commend the Vikings’ organization for understanding the need to have a solid, seasoned backup who can come in and play without any practice snaps, and Case was that guy.”
Compared to Saints star Brees
Fisher has watched Keenum improve mentally and physically since 2014.
“I’m not putting Case in Drew Brees’ league, but what they have in common is their ability, as short quarterbacks, to see the field,” Fisher said. “That’s one of the things that can’t be taught. They learned it over time.” Like Brees, Keenum stands 6-0½. “Whether Case is under center or in shotgun, he knows what’s going on with the defense before the snap because he’s smart,” Fisher said. “When he takes the snap, he can move ever so subtly within the pocket so he can see down the field, which is hard to do at that position.
“You don’t find many quarterbacks in the 6-foot range who are successful. Case throws accurate passes, and he doesn’t make many mistakes.”
Fisher knows why Keenum has such a good rapport with his receivers.
“It starts in practice,” he said. “Case is going to make sure his receivers know that if this situation comes up, here’s where he’s putting the ball. He’s going to throw receivers open. He’s not going to wait until the scheme separates them from coverage.
“When the play’s over, he’ll make sure the second and third receivers know that the ball can come to them at any time, too. There’s an immediate relationship and respect factor between Case and the guys catching the ball for him.”
If Minnesota can defeat Philadelphia, Keenum and the Vikings will be the first team in history to play a Super Bowl in their home stadium.
“I’m so excited for Case,” Fisher said. “Nobody deserves this more than him.”