The Kansas City Chiefs have a new backup quarterback after signing veteran signal caller Gardner Minshew on Monday.
Here are five things to know about the newest member of the quarterback room.
1. Minshew started nine games for the Las Vegas Raiders last season.
The 28-year-old Minshew appeared in 10 games (with nine starts) for the Raiders last season, completing 203-of-306 passes for 2,013 yards and nine touchdowns. He averaged 6.6 yards-per-attempt and posted a passer rating of 81.0.
A broken collarbone suffered in mid-November ultimately ended Minshew's lone season with the Raiders early, but he'll now remain in the AFC West as a member of the Chiefs.
2. A six-year veteran, Minshew has also suited up for the Jaguars, Eagles and Colts.
Ironically enough, Minshew made his NFL debut against the Chiefs back in 2019 and played well, completing 22-of-25 passes for 275 yards and two touchdowns. That appearance was in relief of Jaguars' starter Nick Foles, who got hurt early in the game and missed multiple games in the weeks that followed.
Minshew went on to seize the opportunity, starting 20 games for Jacksonville between the 2019 and 2020 seasons. He posted solid numbers in that time, too, tossing 37 touchdowns to just 11 interceptions during his tenure with the Jaguars.
He then spent two seasons with Philadelphia from 2021-22, where he appeared in nine games (with four starts), before joining the Colts as their starting quarterback for the 2023 campaign. Minshew led Indianapolis to a 7-6 record in his starts that year, throwing for a career-most 3,305 yards and 15 touchdowns while earning a Pro Bowl nod.
He then signed with the Raiders last offseason, where he went on to start nine games.
Overall, Minshew has appeared in 59 games (with 46 starts) during his career, throwing for 11,950 yards and 68 touchdowns.
3. Minshew originally entered the NFL as a sixth-round pick.
The 6-foot-1, 225-pound Minshew was the No. 178 overall pick of the 2019 NFL Draft, making him the 10th quarterback selected that year. Despite those humble beginnings, however, Minshew has the third-most passing yards (11,950) and passing touchdowns (68) of any quarterback taken that year.
His 59 appearances as a professional trail only Kyler Murray (82 games) and Daniel Jones (70 games) among quarterbacks in his draft class.
4. He isn't short on personality.
Minshew has developed a reputation for his outsized personality, as evidenced by his propensity to rock a long mustache and (for a time) a mullet. He traveled cross-country in an RV in 2019, he's flown in an F-16 Falcon fighter jet, and he lived in a renovated bus outside of a gym during the 2022 offseason.
In short, Minshew certainly lives life to its fullest.
5. Minshew finished his college career at Washington State.
A native of Brandon, Mississippi, Minshew spent time at Northwest Mississippi Community College (where he won the 2015 NJCAA National Title) and East Carolina (from 2016-17) before winning 2018 Pac-12 "Offensive Player of the Year" honors in his lone season at Washington State. Minshew set multiple conference records that year, completing 468 passes for 4,779 yards and 38 touchdowns.
His performance caught the attention of NFL scouts, and now seven years later, he's a member of the Chiefs with an opportunity to be Patrick Mahomes' primary backup in 2025.
