Gardner Flint Minshew II Bio
Gardner Flint Minshew II is an American professional football quarterback currently playing for the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League. He began his college football career at Northwest Mississippi Community College, where he won the NJCAA National Football Championship. Minshew then played for East Carolina University before transferring to Washington State University, where he set Pac-12 records for passing yards and completions while winning the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award. Selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the sixth round of the 2019 NFL Draft, Minshew has since played for the Philadelphia Eagles, Indianapolis Colts, Las Vegas Raiders, and Kansas City Chiefs. He earned Pro Bowl honors in 2023 after a standout season with the Colts.
Early Life and Background
Gardner Flint Minshew II was born on May 16, 1996, in Flowood, Mississippi, and raised in nearby Brandon. His father, Flint Minshew, worked as a contractor, and his mother, Kim Minshew, taught middle school math while also playing collegiate basketball at Mississippi State University. During his childhood, Minshew and his father studied Mike Leach’s air raid offense while playing flag football in seventh grade. Area coach Wyatt Rogers taught Minshew the intricacies of that offensive system, and Minshew later became a mentor to Rogers’ son, Will Rogers, who also became a college quarterback.
At Brandon High School, Minshew played football from 2011 to 2014, accumulating 9,705 passing yards, 88 touchdowns, and 1,417 rushing yards across four varsity seasons. He led the Brandon Bulldogs to the Mississippi High School Activities Association 6A championship game as a sophomore and to the South State championship in his senior year, throwing for 3,541 yards and 31 touchdowns that season. Despite his production, he received a three-star recruit rating from Rivals.com and two stars from 247Sports.com.
Path to Professional Football
After initial recruitment attempts fell through, Minshew committed to Troy University in December 2014 and matriculated in January 2015, but he left that May without playing a game. He transferred to Northwest Mississippi Community College on June 3, 2015, winning the starting quarterback job within a week. Minshew led the Rangers to the NJCAA National Football Championship, completing 23 of 30 passes for 421 yards and five touchdowns in the title game against Rochester Community and Technical College. He earned MACJC All-State First-team honors and NJCAA All-American honorable mention, finishing with 3,288 passing yards and 28 touchdowns.
Minshew transferred to East Carolina University in May 2016 and became the Pirates’ starting quarterback in 2017. He threw for 2,140 yards and 16 touchdowns before graduating with a communications degree. Seeking a program running Mike Leach’s air raid offense, Minshew joined Washington State University for his senior season in 2018. He set Pac-12 single-season records with 4,776 passing yards and 468 completions, earning Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Year, First-team All-Pac-12, and the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award. Minshew finished fifth in Heisman Trophy voting and was named MVP of the 2018 Alamo Bowl after leading Washington State to a 28-26 victory over Iowa State.
Gardner Flint Minshew II Career
Jacksonville Jaguars (2019-2020)
The Jacksonville Jaguars selected Minshew in the sixth round, 178th overall, of the 2019 NFL Draft. He won the backup job behind Nick Foles during training camp and became the starter in Week 1 when Foles suffered a fractured clavicle. Minshew completed 22 of 25 passes for 275 yards and two touchdowns in his debut against the Kansas City Chiefs, posting an 88 percent completion rate that ranked highest among NFL players with at least 15 pass attempts in a debut. He earned his first NFL victory in Week 3 against the Tennessee Titans and finished his rookie season with a 6-8 record, 3,271 passing yards, 21 touchdowns, and six interceptions while setting Jacksonville’s franchise record for rookie passing touchdowns.
In 2020, Minshew began as Jacksonville’s unquestioned starter following Foles’ trade to the Chicago Bears. He threw for three touchdowns in each of his first two games and became the first NFL quarterback to achieve a 95 percent completion rate with three or more touchdowns in a single game. However, multiple fractures and a strained ligament in his right thumb sustained in Week 5 against the Houston Texans significantly impacted his performance. He finished the season with 2,259 passing yards, 16 touchdowns, and five interceptions in nine games.
Philadelphia Eagles (2021-2022)
The Jaguars traded Minshew to the Philadelphia Eagles on August 28, 2021, for a conditional sixth-round draft pick. Serving as Jalen Hurts’ backup, he made his first start in Week 13 against the New York Jets when Hurts was sidelined with an ankle injury. Minshew completed 20 of 25 passes for 242 yards and two touchdowns, posting a perfect 158.3 quarterback rating in the first half. He started again in the regular-season finale against the Dallas Cowboys to allow Hurts to rest before the playoffs. In 2022, Minshew made starts in Weeks 16 and 17 when Hurts suffered a shoulder injury, throwing for 355 yards against the Cowboys and 274 yards against the New Orleans Saints.
Indianapolis Colts (2023)
Minshew signed a one-year contract worth $3.5 million with the Indianapolis Colts on March 17, 2023. He made his first start in Week 4 against the Baltimore Ravens when Anthony Richardson was in concussion protocol, leading the Colts to a 22-19 overtime victory with 227 passing yards and one touchdown. After Richardson suffered a season-ending AC joint injury in Week 5, Minshew became the starter and threw for a career-high 3,305 yards, 15 touchdowns, and nine interceptions across 13 starts. He guided Indianapolis to a 9-8 record, narrowly missing the playoffs. His performance earned him his first Pro Bowl selection as an alternate.
Las Vegas Raiders (2024)
Minshew signed a two-year deal with the Las Vegas Raiders on March 14, 2024, and was named the starting quarterback in August. He led the Raiders to an upset victory over the Baltimore Ravens in Week 2, orchestrating three fourth-quarter scoring drives to overcome a 10-point deficit. Through five games, he completed 70.7 percent of his passes for 1,014 yards and four touchdowns but also threw five interceptions. After the Raiders fell to 2-3, he was benched for Aidan O’Connell. Minshew returned briefly in Week 7 before suffering a season-ending broken collarbone in Week 12 against the Denver Broncos when a tackle drove his left shoulder into the turf.
Kansas City Chiefs (2025)
Minshew signed a one-year contract with the Kansas City Chiefs on March 17, 2025. He served as the primary backup to Patrick Mahomes throughout the season. Following Mahomes’ season-ending knee injury in Week 15, Minshew was named the starter for Week 16, but he suffered a non-displaced tibial plateau fracture in that game, ending his season.
Arizona Cardinals (2026-Present)
On March 12, 2026, Minshew signed a one-year, $8.25 million contract with the Arizona Cardinals. He joined the Cardinals as they sought veteran experience to support their developing roster.
Playing Style and Strengths
Minshew is known for his exceptional passing accuracy and quick release, attributes that translated effectively from his college career under Mike Leach’s air raid system. His ability to read defenses and make quick decisions allowed him to maintain high completion percentages throughout his career. His football IQ and leadership qualities helped him earn starting opportunities with multiple franchises despite not possessing elite physical measurables.
Notable Achievements
Throughout his NFL career, Minshew has appeared in 60 games with 37 starts, completing 1,100 of 1,742 pass attempts for 11,987 yards, 68 touchdowns, and 35 interceptions. His 2023 Pro Bowl selection with the Colts stands as his most significant professional honor. In college, he set Pac-12 single-season records for passing yards and completions at Washington State while earning the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award as the nation’s top senior quarterback.
Gardner Flint Minshew II Family
Family Background
Minshew was named after his father, Gardner Flint Minshew, though his father goes by his middle name. He uses the suffix “II” rather than “Junior” at his mother’s request, who did not want him nicknamed “Junior” or “Bubba.” His grandfather originally wanted him named Beowulf after the Old English hero, but his parents rejected the idea. His father worked as a contractor, and his mother taught middle school mathematics while playing basketball at Mississippi State University.
Personal Life
Minshew is a Christian who has spoken publicly about his faith, saying, “It is amazing what can happen when you surrender to God’s plan.” He describes his motto as “too blessed to be stressed” and emphasizes gratitude throughout his journey. His distinctive physical appearance, including a Fu Manchu-style mustache he grew at East Carolina, has made him recognizable among NFL players. Former Jacksonville running back Leonard Fournette nicknamed him “Jock Strap King” for his workout habits. While at Northwest Mississippi, Minshew appeared in the Netflix documentary series Last Chance U, which featured the college football program at East Mississippi Community College.
2025 Season Performance
Entering the 2025 season with the Kansas City Chiefs, Minshew provided stability behind star quarterback Patrick Mahomes. His experience from five previous NFL seasons made him a valuable asset in the quarterback room. The season followed the expected trajectory with Minshew in a backup capacity until circumstances thrust him into the starting role late in the campaign.
When called upon as the starter following Mahomes’ injury in Week 15, Minshew faced the immediate challenge of leading one of the league’s premier franchises. However, he suffered a non-displaced tibial plateau fracture in his first start, prematurely ending his season. The injury underscored the unpredictability of professional football while highlighting the importance of depth at the quarterback position. Minshew’s resilience throughout his career, overcoming various obstacles to remain in the NFL, positioned him for continued opportunities beyond the 2025 season.