The Kansas City Chiefs have brought in a new backup quarterback. Gardner Minshew will be the one to sit behind Patrick Mahomes for the 2025 season. According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, Minshew has signed a one-year deal with Kansas City.
Minshew saw his 2024 season cut short due to injury. The passer suffered a fractured collarbone late in the regular season. Minshew opened the campaign as the starting quarterback for the Las Vegas Raiders. But after five games, the Raiders gave Aidan O'Connell a shot. His own injury allowed Minshew to retake the reins for another five-game stretch.
Now, after a year in Sin City, Gardner Minshew goes to the Raiders' greatest AFC West rival. What stands out about Minshew compared to other recent Chiefs backup quarterbacks?
Gardner Minshew's aggressive nature
Gardner Minshew is certainly not afraid to take chances and pull the trigger in dire situations. That has stood out since his days at Washington State at the college level. That continued during his NFL stops with Jacksonville, Philadelphia, and Indianapolis before the Las Vegas stint. His 2023 run with the Colts nearly elevated an average team into the AFC playoffs.
While Chiefs fans hope Gardner Minshew will not have to take any meaningful snaps in 2025, there is something that stands out about him compared to other recent K.C. backup quarterbacks. His upside surpasses that of any passer who has sat behind Mahomes. Some of that is due to his playing style, but Minshew is also one of the better backup options around the league, especially considering that some teams' starters are well below average.
Minshew is not afraid to extend plays and move around the pocket. His arm strength is still more adequate than that of other starting options around the league. And in the end, Minshew has displayed his toughness plenty of times.
Further experience behind Mahomes will prove helpful
Gardner Minshew is not necessarily going to tell Patrick Mahomes how to do his job. Yet, he has plenty of experience at the NFL level. He can pass along certain knowledge and tricks to players throughout the Chiefs' roster. That has been a notable trait of other recent Kansas City backup quarterbacks. However, Minshew could impact the locker room in a different manner.
Mic'd up moments, along with his wily nature, have been captured plenty of times throughout his professional career. The Chiefs' locker room is already full of a wide cast of characters, but by adding someone like Minshew, Kansas City is bringing in a unique and colorful player to join the mix. It helps that this comes with some level of experience if Minshew ever needed to step in.