KC Chiefs Reportedly to Sign Blaine Gabbert to Back up Patrick Mahomes

Kansas City lands a veteran signal-caller with plenty of experience backing up great quarterbacks.

When Chad Henne retired following the Kansas City Chiefs' Super Bowl LVII win over the Philadelphia Eagles, many wondered who would be serving as Patrick Mahomes's backup for the 2023-24 season. Just over a week before the 2023 NFL Draft kicks off, that answer appears to have been found. 

According to Pat McAfee's report live on his own Pat McAfee Show, veteran signal-caller Blaine Gabbert is signing with Kansas City: 

BREAKING: Blaine Gabbert is signing with the Kansas City Chiefs #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/1Heuj2A6E8

— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) April 18, 2023

Nate Taylor of The Athletic confirmed McAfee's report, adding that Gabbert will be on a one-year deal with the Chiefs.

Gabbert, who went to college at the University of Missouri and enjoyed a successful career with the Tigers, was the 10th overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft. In three seasons with the Jacksonville Jaguars, he completed 414 passes for 4,357 yards and 22 touchdowns but also threw 24 interceptions in the process. He spent his next three years with the San Francisco 49ers, going 4-9 in the 13 games he started and having a touchdown to interception ratio of 16-to-13 in 15 total outings in the Bay Area.

Since his time in San Francisco, Gabbert had short stints with the Arizona Cardinals and Tennessee Titans before making a three-year stop in Tampa Bay and being Tom Brady's backup with the Buccaneers. In 11 games (no starts) behind Brady, Gabbert completed 22 of his 35 pass attempts for 239 yards and three touchdowns. His 111.5 passer rating was the highest of his career with any team thus far.

Gabbert, 33, will almost surely be expected to back up Mahomes and leave Shane Buechele as quarterback No. 3 on the depth chart throughout the entirety of the offseason program. Buechele has experienced some preseason success and the Chiefs have kept him on the roster in an effort to protect him from being snagged by other teams, although they don't appear to be fond enough of him to thrust him into the primary reserve role under center. Former South Dakota State quarterback Chris Oladokun is also on the Chiefs' 90-man roster this offseason.

Read More: Andy Reid Provides Updates on Phase One of Chiefs’ Offseason Program