Chiefs Signing Blaine Gabbert to Back Up Patrick Mahomes, per Report
The Chiefs will reportedly have a new face backing up quarterback Patrick Mahomes in 2023.
Kansas City is signing longtime backup quarterback Blaine Gabbert, according to a Tuesday afternoon report from Pat McAfee. McAfee broke the news on Tuesday’s episode of his eponymous show.and the report was later confirmed by NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
Gabbert, 33, has spent 12 years in the NFL with the Jaguars, 49ers, Cardinals, Titans and Buccaneers. He appeared in one game for Tampa Bay in 2022, completing six of eight passes for 29 yards and a touchdown in the Buccaneers’ season finale against the Falcons.
The Chiefs’ previous backup quarterback, Chad Henne, announced his retirement hours after Kansas City beat the Eagles 38–35 to win Super Bowl LVII on Feb. 12. Other Chiefs quarterbacks under contract besides Mahomes include Shane Buechele and Chris Oladokun.
Gabbert played collegiately at Missouri where he parlayed a solid 2010 season into a No. 10 overall draft selection by Jacksonville in 2011. He started at least 10 games in each of his first two seasons, but never quite found his footing and has served primarily as a backup ever since.