The Kansas City Chiefs have signed a new backup quarterback in Blaine Gabbert to the team shortly before the NFL Draft arrives in town.
The Kansas City Chiefs officially signed veteran quarterback Blaine Gabbert to the roster on Tuesday in another signing before the 2023 NFL Draft arrives in the area next week. Gabbert is a familiar face for local sports fans as a Ballwin, Missouri native who started for the Missouri Tigers before becoming the 10th overall selection in the 2011 NFL Draft—the same draft class as Cam Newton—for the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Gabbert replaces Chad Henne who retired at the start of the offseason after winning a second Super Bowl as the team’s backup quarterback. Gabbert himself has a ring from his time with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers behind Tom Brady.
For Gabbert, the Chiefs are his sixth NFL team in a journeyman career that has also featured stops with the Tennessee Titans, Arizona Cardinals, and San Francisco 49ers.
Unfortunately,us the Chiefs might now have a quarterback controversy on their hands.
Blaine Gabbert is a terrible pickup by the Chiefs. The last thing Mahomes and the rest of the team need to worry about is a quarterback controversy and constantly having to look over his back.
— Goose (@GooseSprngsteen) April 18, 2023
Best thing they can do is name the starting QB today and put it to rest (hopefully)
Not everyone is filled with inspiration when watching Gabbert play, for some reason, so they made their opinions known on Twitter.
it's utterly insane to me that blaine gabbert is still in the NFL. man has gotten paid $25M to be a QB3 at best https://t.co/HIHUy3gAxG
— Elysia (@afflatusmiisery) April 18, 2023
A segment of fans are legitimately excited (or at least glad) about the move and the veteran presence it brings to the roster.
Perfect move. Chiefs like having a vet to backup Mahomes and we have seen how important that role has been with Henne in the past. Love this move. Chase Daniel walked so Blaine Gabbert could run. #MIZ #BackupQbU https://t.co/1a22MEcY26
— Wizard’s Chess (#ForTheCrew) (@ThatsADude11) April 18, 2023
Blaine Gabbert, good veteran backup. More importantly, we can put the “Chiefs drafting a backup QB early” talk to bed.
— Zack Eisen (@zackeisen21) April 18, 2023
Love the Blaine Gabbert signing rock solid backup QB. 33 and smart with a couple years left in the tank. Still draft one IMO To compete with Buechele.
— JKuhn (@h8rproof82) April 18, 2023
Blaine Gabbert is the perfect veteran back up to Patrick Mahomes plus he gets to come back home to Missouri. It's a win win. #ChiefsKingdom
— Jeremy Davisson (@JtotheEtotheR) April 18, 2023
Still, for some, Chad Henne will be impossible to replace.
Blaine Gabbert will never be able to replace the absolute legend that is Chad Henne, no matter how much he tries to follow his career path.
— Perpetually Disappointed (@DPADMandalore) April 18, 2023
At least some of that excitement or approval of Gabbert’s signing is based on the fact that it keeps Carson Wentz from being a Chief.
https://twitter.com/DevclemNFL/status/1648392469585723393
Yet others were sad that it kept their favorite backup from coming on board.
The Chiefs are signing QB Blaine Gabbert, per Pat McAfee.
— lindsey ok (@lindseyyok) April 18, 2023
My dream of Joe Flacco backing up Patrick Mahomes and winning another SB appears to be on hold for now.
A lot of fans are finally glad to see some competent quarterback play arriving in town to provide some much needed competition to the roster.
I knew the day would come where Pat Mahomes would have to earn his spot. Blaine Gabbert is back in Missouri
— Nick Benson (@n1ck_b3n50n) April 18, 2023
It’s time we admit Mahomes is a bust and let the GOATed Blaine Gabbert take over https://t.co/VvEXDaF6OE
— DP (@PopeDavidthe1st) April 18, 2023
Some fans have actually already looked beyond the Gabbert signing despite its newness to the next quarterback signing behind Patrick Mahomes.
Chase Daniel ✅
— Shaun Newkirk (Soros funded blue checkmark) (@Shauncore) April 18, 2023
Blaine Gabbert ✅
Drew Lock 5 years from now
Chiefs are coming for all the ex-Mizzou QBs https://t.co/PkjkGmcyTQ