Chiefs Predicted to Make Rare QB Move for 2025 NFL Season

Known as the face of the NFL, Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes heads into the 2025 NFL season still in his prime.

Following the Chiefs’ crushing defeat to the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LIX, the two-time league MVP is using that loss as fuel. Speaking to reporters after the conclusion of mandatory minicamp last week, Mahomes admitted he’s watched the game tape numerous times.

The 29-year-old quarterback, sacked six times by the Eagles defense, is also ready to put in the work. “We have an expectation that we are going to go out there and score every single drive,” he said. “But that comes with a lot of single reps. A lot of practice reps. A lot of time spent with the guys.

“It takes every single person in the building to go out there and have the top offense in the league.” While preparing for his ninth season in the NFL, his eighth as a starter, Mahomes will have a new backup quarterback for the third straight season.

After letting Carson Wentz walk in free agency, Kansas City signed quarterback Gardner Minshew to a one-year, $1.17 million deal. They re-signed Bailey Zappe to a one-year deal. Kansas City also have quarterback Chris Oladokun, who’s been on and off the practice squad since 2022.

Based on how training camp shakes out next month, Chiefs head coach Andy Reid may pull the trigger on a rare move with the quarterbacks’ room.

The Chief May Choose to Keep 3 QBs on the 53-Man Roster

Ever since Mahomes took over as starting quarterback, the Chiefs have only kept three quarterbacks on the 53-man roster once. However, after the Cleveland Browns poached Zappe off the practice squad in October last year, AtoZ Sports’ Charles Goldman predicts Reid may not want to risk losing him.

Goldman wrote, “It has been a rare occurrence for the Chiefs to keep three quarterbacks on the 53-man roster during the Patrick Mahomes era.” However, during the Alex Smith era, “it was a common tactic.”

Reid “has often opted for three quarterbacks on the 53-man roster as a head coach because it’s the most important position in football and having a stable of talent can help your team in more ways than one… While I tend to believe that this 90-man roster is far too talented with the non-quarterback skill positions to keep three quarterbacks, I could see a path to Coach Reid going back to his old ways.

Zappe, the New England Patriots‘ fourth-round pick from the 2022 NFL draft, beat out Oladokun and Ian Book to nab the third-string spot last season.

“I can’t help but think that the Chiefs might seek to avoid having a quarterback poached from the practice squad again in 2025. That could influence decision-making regarding the 53-man roster, especially if either Oladokun or Zappe has a standout preseason performance.”

Chiefs Head Coach Andy Reid Signaled Gardner Minshew Will Be Patrick Mahomes’ Backup

Amid the quarterback competition, Reid all but confirmed Minshew, who spent last season with the Las Vegas Raiders, will be Mahomes’ backup. “He’s been there — he’s started, so he’s got that,” Reid told reporters of Minshew, per PFT. ”

“He’s got the confidence of the guys around him. Patrick knows he’s been in there and done it, so they can bounce things off of each other. It’s always good to have peers that have played, and you can talk to them about it a little bit. I think on gameday he’ll be great with Patrick, just with what he’s seeing from the sideline and what Pat’s seeing when he’s in there.”