The Kansas City Chiefs are entering the final stretch of the 2025 season facing a quarterback crisis that would rattle even the most stable franchises. First came the devastating news that Patrick Mahomes, the face of the franchise and the engine behind Kansas City’s offensive machine, is out for the season with a torn ACL and LCL.
That alone is a seismic blow. But now, with backup Gardner Minshew also feared to have suffered a season-ending knee injury, the Chiefs are down to their third option under center - and it's a name that might surprise you.
Enter Chris Oladokun.
Yes, the same Chris Oladokun who’s quietly been part of the Chiefs’ quarterback room since 2022. The same Oladokun who has two Super Bowl rings to his name - LVII and LVIII - though he’s rarely seen the field on Sundays. That’s about to change.
When Minshew went down Sunday afternoon in Tennessee, it was Oladokun who stepped in. And while the Chiefs ultimately came up short, the 28-year-old didn’t look overwhelmed by the moment. He completed 11-of-16 passes for 111 yards and posted a passer rating of 88.3 - solid numbers for a guy making his first real appearance in a regular-season game.
Oladokun’s path to this moment has been anything but linear. He played college football at South Florida, Samford, and South Dakota State from 2016 to 2021, showing flashes of promise at each stop.
At SDSU, he had his most productive season, starting 15 games and leading the Jackrabbits to an 11-4 record while throwing 25 touchdowns against just seven interceptions. That performance earned him a shot in the 2022 NFL Draft, where the Pittsburgh Steelers picked him in the seventh round at No. 241 overall.
His stint in Pittsburgh was brief - he didn’t make it past final cuts - but the Chiefs saw something they liked. They brought him in just a week later, and he’s been part of the organization ever since. Over the past few years, Oladokun has bounced between the practice squad and the active roster, staying ready, learning the system, and earning the trust of the coaching staff.
Now, with Mahomes and Minshew sidelined, the Chiefs are likely turning to Oladokun to start on Christmas night against the Denver Broncos. Kickoff is set for 8:15 p.m. ET at Arrowhead Stadium, and while the stakes are high, there’s a quiet confidence in the building about the next man up.
Oladokun may not have the résumé of Mahomes or the experience of Minshew, but he knows this offense. He’s been in the room, in the film sessions, on the sideline. He’s seen what it takes to win at the highest level - and now, he gets his shot to lead.
It’s not the scenario anyone in Kansas City envisioned heading into December, but it’s the one they’ve got. And with the postseason still within reach, all eyes will be on Oladokun to see if he can keep the Chiefs’ championship hopes alive.