Gardner Minshew spent last offseason embroiled in a quarterback battle. This year, his job is simply to back up a three-time Super Bowl MVP.
Signing with the Kansas City Chiefs as Patrick Mahomes insurance a year after being an opening-day starter, Minshew said he's simply there to lend support.
"If there's any way I can help this team, whether it's from the scout team, helping Pat in meetings, whether it's just bringing the good energy to practice," Minshew said this week, via the Kansas City Star. "I look forward to just doing whatever I can to contribute and help this team win."
For the most part, over the past seven years, the Chiefs backup was there to be in meetings, offer verbal support, and occasionally play in a meaningless Week 18 tilt. Mahomes has missed two games due to injury in his career.
While Chad Henne did have to play pivotal snaps in the playoffs after Mahomes went down with an ankle injury in the 2022 Super Bowl run, the past two backups have simply been caddies. Carson Wentz played eight snaps against the Cleveland Browns in Week 15 when Mahomes had a sore ankle, and he started with the backups in a Week 18 blowout loss. The previous year, Blaine Gabbert also appeared in two games, mop-up duty, and another season finale cameo.
Minshew said that, along with the chance to chase a Super Bowl, the prospect of playing for Andy Reid drew him to K.C.
"That was another big reason I chose to come to Kansas City," Minshew said. "I've always been a huge fan of coach Reid's offenses. I've always felt that that was something I could do well in."
Minshew has started at least two games in all six years he's been in the NFL. Even in the two seasons he was the clear backup in Philadelphia, he made four total starts. K.C. hopes that streak of at least two starts ends in 2025.
Minshew's job is to aid Mahomes in the film room and be at the ready if injury strikes so that the Chiefs' postseason plans don't flounder if the former MVP must miss snaps or games.
"Being a starting quarterback in the NFL is a hard deal, with all the expectations, especially for a guy like (Mahomes)," Minshew said." Sometimes it's having a safe place in the quarterback room where you can in and let off some steam or just have a good laugh. That little stuff is very important getting through weeks ... and getting through years."
