Getty
Former Chiefs Carson Wentz at Huntington Bank Field on December 15, 2024.
The Kansas City Chiefs look to return for the 2025 NFL season stronger than ever following their blowout loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LIX.
The Chiefs made several moves to beef up the offensive line around franchise star Patrick Mahomes and made a significant change to the quarterback room.
Kansas City did not re-sign veteran Carson Wentz after one year as Mahomes’ backup. He made one start last season in a meaningless Week 18 matchup against the Denver Broncos. With most of the team’s starters benched, as Kansas City already locked up the No. 1 seed in the AFC and a first-round bye, the Chiefs lost 38-0.
In his lone start and two relief appearances, Wentz completed a total of 19 passes for 118 yards and zero touchdowns. The Chiefs moved on to add quarterback Gardner Minshew, signing the 29-year-old to a one-year, $1.17 million deal. They also re-signed third-stringer Bailey Zappe to a one-year deal, but Chiefs head coach Andy Reid all but confirmed Minshew will be Mahomes’ backup.
GettyChiefs quarterback Gardner Minshew #17 during OTAs on May 29, 2025 in Kansas City, Missouri.
“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.”
Patrick Mahomes Reacted to Former Chiefs QB Carson Wentz’s Exciting Announcement
It remains unclear where Wentz will play during the 2025 NFL season as he lingers on the free agency market. Amid the unknown, however, the 32-year-old shared exciting personal news on Instagram.
The former No. 2 overall pick from the 2016 NFL draft announced that he’s expecting his fourth daughter with his wife, Madison. Wentz posted an adorable picture on Instagram that featured his daughters, Hadley Jayne, Hudson Rose, and Hayes Emersyn, holding the sonogram photos.
Mahomes was thrilled for his former teammate. He commented, “Congrats man!” Chiefs linebacker Drue Tranquill added, “Blessings 🔥❤️,” while wide receiver Justyn Ross wrote, “Congrats brother ❤️.” Country singer Chase Rice joked,” You now bout to have more girls than I’ve had lifetime birdies on the course.”
One fan commented, “You and @jason.kelce can now have your own softball team,” as his former Eagles teammate, Jason Kelce, and his wife, Kylie Kelce, welcomed their fourth daughter in March.
Carson Wentz Predicted to Land With the New Orleans Saints
GettyFormer Chiefs quarterback Carson Wentz at Arrowhead Stadium on September 05, 2024.
Following Derek Carr’s retirement in May, the New Orleans Saints don’t have a clear starting quarterback. As it stands, there’s a competition between second-year Spencer Rattler and rookie Tyler Shough, the Saints’ second-rounder from the 2025 NFL draft.
Numerous analysts have floated the idea of bringing in Wentz to help mentor the young quarterbacks room. Saints Wire’s Bob Rose wrote on June 19, “New Orleans won’t trade any draft capital for a quarterback but could be willing to sign a veteran if Shough and Rattler don’t develop as quickly as hoped.”
ESPN’s Katherine Terrell also mentioned Wentz, who hasn’t been a full-time starter since 2021, as an option back in April.
She wrote, “Wentz’s best season was in 2017, when he went 11-2 as a starter with the Philadelphia Eagles and threw 33 touchdowns before tearing his ACL, opening the door for backup Nick Foles to win a Super Bowl that season.”
Emily Bicks covers the NFL for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Bills, Seahawks and Chiefs. She’s contributed to Heavy since 2019 and has interviewed some of the biggest stars in sports, including Jerry Rice, Shaquille O’Neal and Stefon Diggs. More about Emily Bicks
More Heavy on Chiefs
Loading more stories
