The Kansas City Chiefs' backup quarterback position has been a bit of a revolving door in recent years. From Chad Henne to Matt Moore to Carson Wentz, the organization routinely cycles in veterans to serve as Patrick Mahomes' insurance, and there are numerous examples during this dynastic run of one of those guys needing to step up in a big moment.
This offseason, the Chiefs took a bit of a bolder approach, signing both Gardner Minshew and Bailey Zappe while keeping Chris Oladokun around. Zappe spent some time with the franchise last year, and Oladokun has been around for multiple years, though Minshew is the new kid on the block.
While Minshew is projected to be the primary backup, he's still facing pressure to perform and hold onto that job based on his contract. If he slips up, Zappe or even Oladokun could wind up stealing that role during training camp.
Gardner Minshew spoke to the media for the first time in a #Chiefs uniform today.
— Marleah Campbell (@MarleahKCTV5) June 12, 2025
He made his NFL debut against KC in 2019. When asked if he had any memories after the game w/ Mahomes:
"Shoot, he talked to me, you know? That's more than I was expecting. It was pretty cool." 😂 pic.twitter.com/4I8030lyN1
New Chiefs QB Gardner Minshew Already Under Pressure to Perform
Minshew signed a one-year deal worth a little over $1 million, so the Chiefs have a meager financial investment in him. He's perhaps the best backup QB in the entire league, owning a career 88.5 passer rating and modest 17-29 record as a starter.
Those obviously aren't fantastic numbers, but they're better than most teams' backups could produce, so Minshew stands to serve as perhaps the best backup that Kansas City has had with Mahomes. That said, he struggled with the Las Vegas Raiders in 2024, winning just two of his nine starts while throwing more interceptions (10) than touchdowns (nine).
Zappe isn't a ferocious third-stringer, yet he's had some success as well. He's 4-5 as a starter but completed 70.7% of his passes with the New England Patriots in four games in 2022. A solid player, Zappe is an overqualified piece of depth who certainly expects to push Minshew once the team reports to St. Joseph, MO, for camp.
Fans should expect Minshew to start. Even still, he's under immense pressure. Should Minshew lose the backup job, his days as a potential starter in the NFL are numbered. The 29-year-old signal caller out of Washington State reasonably expects to take this as a developmental year before trying to find a different team, similar to Wentz. He's got potential still, but this will be perhaps the most critical year of his career if he intends to graduate into larger responsibility in 2026 and beyond.
We'll see what happens, but Minshew is a key player to watch as there's a reasonable chance that he remains Mahomes' backup for years to come if he doesn't shine.