Shane Buechele is an American professional football quarterback currently signed to the Buffalo Bills practice squad of the National Football League (NFL). Born on January 8, 1998, in Arlington, Texas, Buechele has built a career navigating the depths of NFL rosters as a backup quarterback. He played college football at the University of Texas and Southern Methodist University before signing with the Kansas City Chiefs as an undrafted free agent in 2021. Buechele won a Super Bowl ring as a member of the Chiefs during the 2022 season.
Shane Buechele Bio
Shane Buechele spent his formative years in Arlington, Texas, where his athletic abilities extended beyond football. He attended Lamar High School, where he distinguished himself as a dual-sport athlete in both football and baseball. On the football field, Buechele showcased exceptional talent as a quarterback, passing for 6,379 yards with 73 touchdowns while adding 1,805 rushing yards and 21 touchdowns on the ground. His performance attracted national attention, ranking him among the top quarterback recruits in his class. He earned an invitation to the prestigious Elite 11 quarterback competition, where his accuracy impressed coaches and earned him a second-place finish overall. Despite growing up in a household that favored the Oklahoma Sooners, Buechele chose to play for their rivals, committing to the University of Texas to begin his college career.
College Career at Texas Longhorns
Buechele arrived at the University of Texas in 2016 as a highly-touted freshman prospect. He immediately entered competition for the starting quarterback position against Tyrone Swoopes. After winning the job, he made his first career start against the 10th-ranked Notre Dame Fighting Irish, becoming only the second true freshman to ever start at quarterback for Texas and the first since Bobby Layne in 1944. In that memorable debut, Buechele led the unranked Longhorns to a thrilling 50-47 double-overtime victory, the first-ever overtime game in Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium history. He completed 16 of 26 passes for 280 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. Later that season, he surpassed Colt McCoy for the most passing yards by a freshman in school history. Buechele finished his freshman year with 2,958 passing yards, 21 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions.
The 2017 season presented challenges as injuries limited Buechele’s availability. He started the season opener against Maryland but found himself replaced by backup Sam Ehlinger after suffering injuries in subsequent games. Despite returning to lead Texas over Iowa State, further injuries caused him to miss key games against Kansas State and Oklahoma. He regained the starting role for games against Baylor, TCU, and Kansas, winning two of three starts. His 2018 season was brief, as he saw action in only two games due to redshirting. When called upon against Baylor, Buechele replaced an injured Ehlinger and led Texas to a 23-17 victory. He stepped in again against Iowa State when Ehlinger suffered a shoulder injury, completing 10 of 10 passes for 89 yards and a touchdown in another win.
SMU Mustangs Transfer
After graduating from Texas in spring 2019, Buechele transferred to Southern Methodist University to continue his collegiate career. He replaced Ben Hicks, who had transferred to the University of Arkansas, and immediately made an impact. In his SMU debut against Arkansas State, Buechele completed 30 of 49 passes for 360 yards with one interception in a 37-30 victory. His performance at SMU earned him First-team All-American Athletic Conference honors following the 2019 season, validating his decision to continue his development as a quarterback with the Mustangs program.
Shane Buechele Career
Undrafter Free Agent Signing
Despite projecting as a capable quarterback through his college career, Buechele went undrafted in the 2021 NFL Draft. His professional journey began when he signed with the Kansas City Chiefs as an undrafted free agent on May 13, 2021. The Chiefs waived him during final roster cuts on August 31, 2021, but he quickly rejoined the organization by signing to their practice squad the following day. Buechele was elevated from the practice squad on November 16, 2021, though he spent the remainder of his rookie season on the inactive list, learning behind starting quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
Kansas City Chiefs First Stint
The 2022 season saw Buechele remain on the Chiefs roster as the third-string quarterback behind Mahomes. He was inactive for every game that season, continuing his development as a backup while observing one of the league’s elite quarterbacks daily. Despite not appearing in any games, Buechele achieved the pinnacle of NFL success when the Chiefs defeated the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LVII. As a member of the championship team, he received a Super Bowl ring, marking the first championship victory of his professional career.
Buffalo Bills Journey
Buechele’s tenure with Kansas City ended when the Chiefs waived him on August 29, 2023. He quickly found a new home, signing with the Buffalo Bills practice squad on August 31, 2023. He signed a reserve/futures contract with the Bills on January 23, 2024, indicating the team’s interest in retaining him for the future. However, his 2024 season was derailed when he was placed on injured reserve with a neck injury on August 13, 2024, causing him to miss the entire season. On January 29, 2025, Buechele re-signed with the Bills on a one-year contract. He was released during final roster cuts on August 26, 2025, but was re-signed to the practice squad the following day, demonstrating the Bills’ continued confidence in his abilities.
Kansas City Chiefs Second Stint
On December 22, 2025, Buechele was signed to the Kansas City Chiefs active roster due to injuries affecting their quarterback room. With both Patrick Mahomes and Gardner Minshew dealing with injuries, Buechele was called upon to serve as the backup quarterback. He made his NFL debut on January 4, 2026, against the Las Vegas Raiders, completing 7 of 14 pass attempts for 88 yards. He was released the following day and returned to the Buffalo Bills, signing to their practice squad on January 7, 2026. Buechele subsequently signed a reserve/futures contract with the Bills on February 11, 2026.
Playing Style and Strengths
Buechele is known for his accuracy and competitive nature, qualities that earned him recognition at the Elite 11 quarterback competition during his high school career. His experience backing up elite quarterbacks like Patrick Mahomes has provided him with invaluable learning opportunities. Despite limited game action throughout his NFL career, Buechele has demonstrated his ability to step in and manage games effectively when called upon, completing passes at a competent rate and showing poise in pressure situations.
Notable Events and Milestones
His most significant career milestone remains his Super Bowl victory with the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LVII following the 2022 season. His college career featured memorable performances, including leading Texas to an upset victory over Notre Dame as a true freshman and earning First-team All-AAC honors at SMU. His NFL debut against the Las Vegas Raiders in January 2026 marked the culmination of years of patience and persistence as a backup quarterback.
Shane Buechele Career Statistics
Throughout his NFL career, Buechele has seen limited game action as a backup quarterback. His career statistics reflect his role as a reserve player who has been called upon sparingly throughout his professional tenure.
NFL Career Highlights
Buechele made his NFL debut on January 4, 2026, against the Las Vegas Raiders, completing 7 of 14 pass attempts for 88 yards. Throughout his career, he has served primarily as a depth player on rosters featuring established starting quarterbacks. His most recent professional appearance came during his brief stint with the Chiefs in early 2026. Prior to his NFL career, he demonstrated strong statistical production at both Texas and SMU, with his standout season coming at SMU in 2019 where he earned First-team All-AAC recognition.
Shane Buechele Family
Family Background and Athletic Lineage
Shane Buechele comes from a distinguished athletic family. His father, Steve Buechele, played Major League Baseball from 1985 to 1995 and currently serves as a television analyst for the Texas Rangers. Steve’s MLB career provided Shane with firsthand knowledge of what it takes to compete at the highest level of professional sports. Shane’s brother, Garrett Buechele, also pursued baseball at the University of Oklahoma and played in the minor leagues, continuing the family’s athletic tradition. This multi-generational athletic background has clearly influenced Shane’s development as a professional athlete.
Personal Life
Off the field, Shane Buechele married his long-time girlfriend Paige Loren on March 12, 2023, in Grapevine, Texas. The wedding celebrated their relationship in front of family and friends in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, close to where Buechele grew up. As of his most recent season, Buechele has no children. His focus remains on continuing his NFL career while maintaining his family connections in Texas.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season represented a challenging year for Buechele as he battled through injury concerns and roster uncertainty. After re-signing with the Buffalo Bills on January 29, 2025, on a one-year contract, he was released during final roster cuts on August 26 as teams finalized their 53-player rosters. His ability to be re-signed to the practice squad the following day demonstrated the Bills’ continued appreciation for his value as a developmental quarterback. Throughout the season, Buechele served in a backup capacity, preparing to contribute if called upon. His experience navigating multiple organizations and adapting to different team cultures has shaped him into a reliable depth player who understands his role within an NFL locker room. The outlook for Buechele remains focused on continuing to develop his skills and earning opportunities to contribute at the professional level.