The Chiefs are headed into training camp with an unusual sort of quarterback puzzle behind Patrick Mahomes, and Garrett Nussmeier has a real path to winning it.
Kansas City brought in Justin Fields with a minor trade from the New York Jets in March, then added Nussmeier in the seventh round of last April’s draft. Chris Oladokun, who started at the end of last season while Mahomes was out, is still in the mix too. But with Mahomes working back from a knee injury and expected to be ready for Week 1, the real spotlight falls on Fields and Nussmeier over the three preseason games.
Fields brings the obvious physical jolt. He can stress a defense with his legs and make plays as a runner that most quarterbacks simply can’t.
The problem is the passing game has never fully settled in, and that’s what makes this battle interesting. Nussmeier, on the other hand, offers a different kind of appeal - the sort of all-around profile Andy Reid could trust if he ever needs a backup to take meaningful snaps.
There’s also the matter of toughness, and Nussmeier has already shown plenty of that. He was once seen as a potential top quarterback in the 2026 class before LSU’s offense stalled badly last season and an injury eventually knocked him out of the lineup. That slide helped push him down draft boards, even if it was still a surprise to see him last all the way until round seven because of his natural ability.
What Nussmeier did show, though, was fight. Even in a rough final stretch at LSU, he kept competing until he physically couldn’t anymore. That kind of edge matters when an NFL team is deciding who belongs in the quarterback room.
Fields’ passing issues are the biggest obstacle in this competition. He has struggled to find consistency through the air, with too many throws sailing high and wide and too many missed chances in close games during his starting career. That same unevenness has shown up in Chiefs camp at times, where he’s been dinged for ugly interceptions and for locking onto his targets.
That puts a premium on accuracy, ball placement and the ability to work the middle of the field. If Fields can’t show he can distribute the ball all over the field safely, Nussmeier has a real opening. The rookie should get plenty of chances to prove it, too, with Kansas City able to lean on him heavily across those three preseason games.
Nussmeier’s game gives him a few built-in advantages in this kind of fight. He’ll stand in and absorb contact after releasing the ball.
He understands pocket movement and where his outlets are. And unlike some young passers, he’s comfortable throwing into the middle of the field, which could matter a lot in a system as demanding as Kansas City’s.
His background helps explain some of that calm. Nussmeier is the son of a former quarterback and longtime QB coach, and that influence has clearly shaped the way he carries himself as a passer. With that foundation and Reid’s coaching, it isn’t hard to picture him sticking around in Kansas City for a while.
There’s also a roster wrinkle here. Some around the league may have thought the Chiefs spent a draft pick on Nussmeier in a way that didn’t add much value. But Kansas City could also use either Fields or Nussmeier as part of a move to turn a backup quarterback into a small asset before the season begins.
And if Nussmeier doesn’t make the 53-man roster, he’d have to clear waivers to get back to the Chiefs. That only adds to the importance of these preseason reps. For now, though, his play style, his poise and his natural throwing ability give him a legitimate chance to emerge as the clear No. 2 behind Mahomes.
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