Kansas City Chiefs superstar quarterback Patrick Mahomes will have a new backup for the 2025 season. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Chiefs signed veteran quarterback Gardner Minshew to a one-year deal.
Sources: Free-agent QB Gardner Minshew reached agreement today on a one-year deal with the Kansas City Chiefs. A new backup for Patrick Mahomes. pic.twitter.com/2CNbhoEM2g
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 13, 2025
When the new league year began on Wednesday, the Las Vegas Raiders officially released Minshew with a failed physical designation. The veteran quarterback appeared in 10 games (nine starts) last season with the Raiders after spending the 2023 season with the Indianapolis Colts.
Despite being briefly benched for Aidan O’Connell, Minshew completed 66.3 percent of his passes for 2,013 yards, nine touchdowns, and 10 interceptions.
The 28-year-old quarterback suffered a broken collarbone in Week 11 against the Denver Broncos. Minshew was placed on injured reserve, effectively ending his 2024 season. The veteran signal caller faced the Chiefs in Week 8, where Kansas City won 27-20 in Las Vegas.
Minshew played well against Steve Spagnuolo's defense, completing a season-high 80 percent of his passes for 209 yards and two touchdowns.
The veteran quarterback will now get to learn from one of the league’s best QBs and players in Mahomes.
Last offseason, the Chiefs signed former Philadelphia Eagles QB Carson Wentz as Mahomes’ backup, but he didn’t play well in his lone start of the regular season.
In Week 18 against the Denver Broncos, the former first-round pick struggled mightily, completing 58.8 percent of his passes for 98 yards in a 38-0 shutout loss. Wentz was also sacked four times in his first start of the 2024 season.
Kansas City fans hope they won’t see much of Minshew next season, as the Chiefs are looking to get back to the Super Bowl after falling short of winning three-straight titles in February. Minshew won’t wow you with his arm, but he’s a gamer, has experience being a backup, and is an upgrade over Wentz.