Report: Gardner Minshew, Chiefs Reach Contract as Mahomes' Backup After Raiders Exit

Gardner Minshew is off to his fourth team in as many seasons.

The veteran quarterback reportedly signed a one-year with the Kansas City Chiefs on Thursday to serve as Patrick Mahomes' backup, per ESPN's Adam Schefter, a role held by Carson Wentz last season.

Minshew, 28, was released by the Las Vegas Raiders this offseason, a move that saved them $9.3 million in cap space. The team was always expected to go in a new direction at quarterback with a new head coach in Pete Carroll and a new general manager in John Spytek, ultimately trading for Geno Smith.

He had signed with the team on a two-year, $25 million deal before the 2024 campaign but struggled in his lone season in Vegas, throwing for 2,013 yards, nine touchdowns and 10 interceptions in 10 games while completing 66.3 percent of his passes and taking 29 sacks. The Raiders went 2-7 in his starts.

Minshew has now had stints with the Jacksonville Jaguars (2019-20), Philadelphia Eagles (2021-22), Indianapolis Colts (2023), Raiders and the Chiefs. But since playing well for Jacksonville in his rookie year—he threw for 3,271 yards, 21 touchdowns, six interceptions and had a 6-6 record as the starter—he's generally been mediocre and hasn't been able to hold down the starting gig in either Indy or Vegas when given the opportunity.

At this point, Minshew's future will likely be as a backup quarterback, though his experience in such a role gives him value in a backup role. Kansas City is banking on as much.