Garrett Nussmeier came to Chiefs camp with a familiar advantage for a young quarterback: he’s been around the position his whole life.
That starts with his father, Doug Nussmeier, who played quarterback in the NFL from 1994-2000 and then spent 20 years coaching in college and the NFL. Doug has worked as both a quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator, and he’s now the OC for the New Orleans Saints. So when Garrett, the Chiefs’ seventh-round pick, talks about learning the game, he’s speaking from a long-running education that began when he first wanted to play in the NFL at 5 years old.
Now that education is continuing in Kansas City, where Nussmeier is getting a front-row seat to the Chiefs’ offensive operation under Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes.
After Friday’s practice, Nussmeier was asked about the challenge of absorbing Reid’s system. His answer sounded like a rookie eager to take notes from every possible angle.
“I’m just trying to learn and grow in many different areas of my game,” Nussmeier said. “Even if he’s not talking to me, if he’s talking to Pat, if he’s talking to Justin (Fields), I’m just trying to soak up as much knowledge as I can around him.”
Being a “coach’s kid” has helped him handle the details of the offense, and that comfort showed up during team period. The Chiefs ran a two-minute drill, with each quarterback asked to lead a drive that simulated a fourth-quarter situation.
Nussmeier was the one who finished with the only scoring drive, stringing together a six-play march that included four straight completions before he used his legs to reach the end zone on a play that would have counted as a touchdown. The sequence drew cheers from teammates and praise from Reid.
“Every time he’s in, he moves the ball,” Reid said. “He’s doing a nice job, and we’ve loaded him up. I mean, we haven’t pulled back on anything with him as far as volume, and he’s handled it.”
Even with that encouraging practice showing, Nussmeier knows the real test is still ahead. For now, he’s learning behind Mahomes, a player he described as a “library of knowledge.”
Nussmeier said Mahomes has seen it all, and that’s exactly why he’s paying close attention.
“He’s seen every scenario and every situation,” Nussmeier said about Mahomes. “When he talks about those moments, I’m listening and just seeing what he says about the situation, what the atmosphere is like, just anything I can.”
Nussmeier still doesn’t know how much he’ll play in the Chiefs’ first preseason game against the Los Angeles Rams on Aug. 15. Until then, he says the focus stays on sharpening his game and trusting the work.
“It’s still 120 yards, back end zone to back end zone,” Nussmeier said. “For me, right now, I’m just trying to make myself better, and it’s about the process.”
In Other News...
Peter Woods Could Change Everything For The Chiefs Defensive Front
Kansas Citys defensive front already had plenty of intrigue, and the addition of Peter Woods only adds to it. Taken with the 29th pick in the 2026 draft, the defensive tackle joins a room that also includes Khyiris Tonga, Omarr Norman-Lott and Chris Jones, giving the Chiefs another high-end body to develop up front. Woods was once viewed as one of the top tackle prospects in his class, even if his final college season brought a dip in production.
For the Chiefs, the question is less about the talent and more about how quickly it translates. Woods brings the kind of upside that can reshape a defensive line if he settles in, but rookie seasons rarely follow a straight line, especially for interior linemen asked to adjust to the pro game. There is optimism here, of course, but also some reason for caution as Kansas City tries to turn a promising draft pick into a real difference-maker. [Read more 🡒]
Former Chiefs Fans Remember Are Running Out Of NFL Chances
Several familiar names from last seasons Chiefs roster are still looking for jobs as the offseason winds down and teams trim toward final rosters. Kareem Hunt, Deon Bush, Mike Edwards and Janarius Robinson are among the veteran defenders and backs who remain unsigned, a reminder of how quickly the NFL can move on even from players who were part of Kansas Citys recent plans.
Hunts situation stands out because he led the Chiefs in rushing in 2024 before not being brought back this offseason, while Bush and Edwards are left navigating a shrinking market for veteran safeties. Robinsons path is a little different, with the defensive end working back from injury and already drawing interest elsewhere, but for all four players the common thread is the same: late summer is arriving, rosters are filling, and the list of realistic opportunities is getting shorter. [Read more 🡒]