Nobody really thinks about the fire extinguisher until the kitchen is actually on fire. For the Kansas City Chiefs, that "fire extinguisher" has usually been a veteran with a clipboard and a headset, someone like Chad Henne or Blaine Gabbert, just waiting for a blowout to happen so they can take a few knees. But man, the 2025 season changed that narrative in the most brutal way possible. If you’re looking at the kansas city chiefs backup quarterback situation right now in January 2026, it looks nothing like what anyone expected when training camp opened in St. Joe.
It’s been a weird year. Honestly, "weird" is an understatement. For nearly a decade, Patrick Mahomes was essentially invincible. Then the 2025 season happened. Mahomes went down with a torn ACL and LCL in mid-December, and suddenly, the "backup" wasn't just a guy holding a tablet—he was the guy holding the entire season.
The Gardner Minshew Experiment
When the Chiefs signed Gardner Minshew to a one-year deal in March 2025, people loved it. The mustache. The energy. He was supposed to be the "premier" insurance policy. After Carson Wentz left for Minnesota, Minshew felt like a massive upgrade for a room that needed a spark.
But football is a cruel game.
Minshew stepped in for Mahomes, but his tenure as the starter lasted about as long as a cup of coffee. He suffered a serious knee injury almost immediately after taking over, leaving the Chiefs in a position they haven't been in since the pre-Andy Reid era: total uncertainty at the most important position on the field.
🔗 Read more: Texas vs Oklahoma Football Game: Why the Red River Rivalry is Getting Even Weirder
Who is Chris Oladokun?
With Mahomes and Minshew both on Injured Reserve, the spotlight shifted to a name most casual fans couldn't even pronounce a few months ago: Chris Oladokun.
Oladokun is kind of a fascinating story. He was a seventh-round pick by the Steelers back in 2022 and has basically been a professional "scout team" legend in Kansas City for three years. He’s the guy who mimics Lamar Jackson or Josh Allen in practice to help the defense prepare.
Is he a franchise savior? Probably not. But he’s the kansas city chiefs backup quarterback who had to actually finish the season. He’s mobile, he’s got a decent arm, and he knows the playbook better than almost anyone because he’s been marinating in it since 2022.
- Experience: He played at South Florida, Samford, and South Dakota State. Talk about a journeyman college career.
- The Stats: In his late-season relief appearances, he’s been... okay. He posted an 88.3 passer rating in a pinch, which is better than most expected.
- The Role: Right now, he’s technically the "starter" by default, but in the grand scheme of the 2026 outlook, he’s battling to stay on the roster as the permanent QB2.
The Shane Buechele Return
The Chiefs also brought back a familiar face in Shane Buechele. Fans remember him from his preseason heroics a few years back. He was sitting on the Bills' practice squad before the Chiefs' QB room turned into a hospital ward. He’s another guy who understands the "Reid-speak"—that complex language of play-calling that usually takes years to master.
💡 You might also like: How to watch vikings game online free without the usual headache
Seeing Travis Kelce catch his history-making 13,000th yard from Buechele instead of Mahomes felt wrong. It felt like a glitch in the simulation. But that’s where we are.
What the Chiefs Get Wrong About Backups
There’s a common misconception that you don't need to spend real money on a backup if you have a superstar. The Chiefs have lived by this. They usually go for cheap veterans. But when you’re paying Mahomes nearly $500 million, you’re basically betting that he’ll never get hurt.
When he does? The system collapses.
The kansas city chiefs backup quarterback role isn't just about playing games; it's about the "film room" support. Minshew was great at that. He mentioned in interviews how he wanted to be a "safe place" for Mahomes to vent. But the Chiefs learned the hard way that you need a guy who can actually win a Week 17 game when the playoffs are on the line.
📖 Related: Liechtenstein National Football Team: Why Their Struggles are Different Than You Think
Looking Toward 2026: The New Reality
As we head into the 2026 offseason, the front office is staring at a massive headache. Mahomes is rehabbing. Minshew is a free agent. Oladokun and Buechele are basically placeholders.
Do they go after a big-name veteran again? Or do they finally use a mid-round draft pick on a young guy they can develop?
The Chiefs' "win-now" window is still open, but the 2025 collapse proved that the kansas city chiefs backup quarterback position is no longer a luxury—it’s a necessity. You can't just hope for the best anymore.
What happens next?
If you're following the roster moves this week, keep an eye on these specific shifts:
- Watch for "Futures" contracts: The Chiefs are already signing guys like Bailey Zappe to see if they can find a diamond in the rough for 2026.
- The Mahomes Rehab Timeline: This will dictate how much they spend on a backup. If Pat isn't ready for Week 1, they might have to overpay for a starter-level veteran like Ryan Tannehill or a bridge QB.
- Scouting the Draft: Don't be surprised if KC looks at a quarterback in the 4th or 5th round. They need a cheap, talented arm they can control for four years.
The mustache era was fun while it lasted, but Kansas City needs stability now more than ever.