Gardner Minshew’s Unlikely Journey: From Backup QB to Kansas City Starter - and Maybe Future Cattleman
Gardner Minshew has always marched to the beat of his own drum - whether it’s rocking a handlebar mustache, showing up to training camp in jorts, or now, planning a future in cattle farming. But right now, the Kansas City Chiefs need him to do something a little more conventional: win football games.
With Patrick Mahomes sidelined for the rest of the season due to a torn ACL in his left knee, Minshew is stepping into the starting role as the Chiefs try to salvage a 6-8 campaign. It’s not the way anyone wanted this opportunity to come, but for Minshew, it’s another chapter in a career that’s been anything but predictable.
And while the focus is firmly on finishing the season strong, Minshew’s mind occasionally drifts to life beyond the gridiron - and into the pastures of Missouri.
A Quarterback with a Plan Beyond the Pocket
Not long after signing with Kansas City in March, Minshew opened up about a surprising post-football ambition: cattle farming.
“I want to be outside, working. I want to be tired when I go to sleep,” Minshew said last month.
“Start looking at what it costs to eat good, and to even know what’s really in the food that you’re eating. It’s about impossible with the laws of how things can be labeled nowadays.”
That curiosity led him to a farm in Liberty, Missouri over the summer. The visit gave him a firsthand look at the day-to-day operations, and while he’s not planning to run a massive ranch, the experience helped shape his vision for what life after football might look like.
“They do a little bit different operation,” Minshew said. “I think I’d probably have a herd, and you’re kind of managing the breeding and having them year over year.
They’re more of a buy-them-young, grow-them-out, and sell-them. So it’s a different style, but still a lot of logistical stuff and really good insight.”
For Minshew, it’s not just about the animals - it’s about the process, the sustainability, and the connection to something real. “Being able to control that part of the process would be fun. To be able to do that for friends and family and anybody else.”
From Sixth-Round Pick to Season-Saving Starter
Before he was thinking about rotational grazing and herd management, Minshew was a sixth-round pick out of Washington State in 2019. He got his NFL start in Jacksonville, famously stepping in for an injured Nick Foles - against the Chiefs, no less - and quickly became a fan favorite with his improvisational style and infectious energy.
After three seasons with the Jaguars, Minshew bounced from Philadelphia to Indianapolis, where he earned a Pro Bowl nod in 2023. Last season, he made nine starts for the Raiders before signing with Kansas City this past offseason.
Now, he’s back in the spotlight - not as a quirky backup, but as the man tasked with keeping the Chiefs’ season alive. And while the circumstances aren’t ideal, Minshew has never been one to shy away from a challenge.
One Eye on the Field, the Other on the Farm
With Mahomes out, Minshew’s focus is squarely on helping Kansas City finish strong. But when the season wraps, he’s got another farm visit lined up - this time in southeastern Missouri.
“There’s one in southeastern Missouri that’s a really cool model. They practice what’s called Holistic Management,” Minshew said.
“It’s just a different way of how they graze, and they have multiple species out there all working together. That would be my next one.
Probably hit that one on my drive home. Spend the day there.”
That blend of curiosity, work ethic, and willingness to dive into the unknown has always defined Minshew - whether he’s reading a defense or learning how to rotate livestock.
For now, the Chiefs need him to be QB1. But don’t be surprised if someday down the line, Gardner Minshew trades his helmet for a cowboy hat - and finds success in a field far from the football field.