This time last year was right around when the Kansas City Chiefs signed Carson Wentz to serve as Patrick Mahomes' backup for the 2025 NFL season. With Wentz' departure in free agency in March, the Chiefs wasted no time replacing him and filling out the depth chart behind Patrick Mahomes.
Gardner Minshew is clearly in line to be the QB2, with a lead over Bailey Zappe and Chris Oladokun in the competition, and that's the spot he holds on the depth chart as KC begins their offseason workouts.
Andy Reid opened up for the first time about his impressions of Minshew, and he made a pretty glowing comparison.
Andy Reid Gives First Review of Gardner Minshew as Chiefs' Backup Quarterback
Reid was quick to invoke Mahomes in his praise for Minshew, comparing the way the two share a "humble personality" and that they love to play the game. Obviously these aren't the two most important traits in Mahomes' success, but it's pretty high praise for any QB2 to even be mentioned in the same breath as the two-time MVP.
#Chiefs HC Andy Reid on QB Gardner Minshew: "He's a good football player. I think it'll be a good relationship between the two of them (Minshew and Mahomes). . . Gardner is a great kid with a humble personality. Loves to play the game. Those are things Pat has, too. It should be…
— Charles Goldman (@goldmctNFL) April 21, 2025
Minshew is a really interesting choice as the Chiefs' backup QB because he's never really been in a situation like this. He has always had the opportunity to at least compete for a starting job, and has made no fewer than 2 starts (but also no more than 13) in any of his six NFL seasons. He has never had the opportunity to simply commit fully to a backup role while learning from a top-tier starter.
So while Chiefs fans will hope they never need to see Minshew take a meaningful snap, they can feel pretty good about the fact that if Minshew had to fill in for a game or two in the regular season it wouldn't totally tank the Chiefs' playoff hopes.
After all, just check out how Minshew compares to the last few non-Mahomes QBs to start a game for the Chiefs:
Player | Career Passer Rating |
|---|---|
Gardner Minshew | 88.5 |
Carson Wentz | 89.2 |
Blaine Gabbert | 71.7 |
Chad Henne | 76.1 |
Matt Moore | 82.8 |