Patrick Mahomes will still be running the show on the field for the Kansas City Chiefs, but he has a new backup. Gone is Carson Wentz, who was the Chiefs’ main backup to Mahomes in 2024, as he’s currently a free agent. But Kansas City has found a new guy to be an insurance policy behind Mahomes in the form of Gardner Minshew.
The former Washington State Cougars star signal-caller signed with Kansas City back in March for a one-year deal worth just $1.17 million. It is a low-risk signing for the Chiefs, who fell short of their bid to become the first team ever to win three consecutive Super Bowl titles after falling prey to Jalen Hurts and the Philadelphia Eagles in February.
Gardner Minshew brings some QB stability to the Kansas City Chiefs
Kansas City head coach Andy Reid seemed confident in Minshew, who was a sixth-round pick by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the 2019 NFL draft.
“He’s been there — he’s started, so he’s got that,” Reid said during a press conference (h/t Myles Simmons of Pro Football Talk). “He’s got the confidence of the guys around him. Patrick knows he’s been in there and done it, so they can bounce things off of each other.
“It’s always good to have peers that have played, and you can talk to them about it a little bit. I think on gameday he’ll be great with Patrick, just with what he’s seeing from the sideline and what Pat’s seeing when he’s in there.”
Minshew isn’t expected to see plenty of action on the field in the 2025 season, but he’s someone Kansas City can still count on to provide decent service under center should he get called upon to sling the ball.
In 59 appearances, including 46 starts in the NFL, Minshew has thrown for 11,950 passing yards and 68 touchdowns against 34 interceptions on a 63.3 percent completion rate.
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