In Gardner Minshew, Chiefs have a reliable backup behind Mahomes
Patrick Holleron
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — Dating back to the 2019 season, Gardner Minshew has made a name for himself in the NFL with his strong play, along with his iconic mustache and mullet.
The 178th pick in the 2019 NFL Draft has been a steady presence on many teams, including the Jacksonville Jaguars, Philadelphia Eagles, Indianapolis Colts, Las Vegas Raiders and now the Kansas City Chiefs. Entering his 6th season, Minshew has completed 1,094 passes for 11,950 yards, 68 passing and 5 rushing touchdowns.
As training camp as progressed, Minshew has drawn praise from the Chiefs coaching, Andy Reid included. Reid specifically noted Minshew’s experience in starting multiple games as something that has been noticeable.
“He’s smart. He’s got good accuracy, poise,” Reid said. “You kind of have a heads up because he’s actually started in games. You kind of know how he handles the pressure. We liked what we saw on tape and I’ve seen the same thing here.”
The the skill in his accuracy and poise that Reid mentioned dates back to his high school days with the Brandon Bulldogs in Brandon, Mississippi. When his former Brandon offensive coordinator, Wyatt Rogers, started working with Minshew after his 8th grade year of school, he immediately took notice to Minshew’s attention to detail.
“Probably the biggest thing that foreshadowed his success was his attention to detail,” Rogers said. He was always hungry for more. He would ask the right questions. After he got home, maybe two hours after we had watched film, he would shoot me questions over text.”
That same attention to detail has played a role in Minshew getting more comfortable and familiar within Kansas City’s offense.
“They communicate very well on like potential looks,” Minshew said. “You can understand how the play might adjust on the fly, really give the guys opportunity to play ball and be successful. That’s what has been a lot of fun”
Of the aspects of his game that have grown over the years, Rogers has seen Minshew’s running ability being put on more on display.
“He makes plays with his feet now,” Rogers said. “He didn’t really do that in high school. He was more of a a guy that was going to drop back and stay in the pocket. He ran some, but you particularly saw it once he got to Washington State (Cougars). It was like he found a new gear in his athleticism.”
The ‘new gear’ Rogers mentions was seen in the Chiefs’ preseason game against the Arizona Cardinals. Minshew completed 6 of his 9 passes for 54 yards, rushing 3 times for 4 yards and 1 rushing touchdown.
When the Chiefs signed Minshew back in March, they were looking for a reliable backup if Patrick Mahomes had to miss time. His early success in training camp and the preseason is showing exactly why they wanted to bring him to Kansas City.