Andy Reid sends subtle warning as Chiefs enter post-Mahomes stretch
With Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes sidelined for the rest of the season, coach Andy Reid has other plans for the final three games.
For nearly a decade, Andy Reid has never had to imagine a Kansas City Chiefs future without Patrick Mahomes under center. Now, with Mahomes sidelined for the remainder of the 2025 season and the Chiefs already eliminated from playoff contention, that unfortunate reality has arrived, and Reid isn’t pretending the final three games are meaningless.
Instead, the veteran head coach made it clear this week that Kansas City’s closing stretch will double as an extended evaluation period, not just for quarterback Gardner Minshew, who’s filling in for Mahomes, but for much of the roster.
Andy Reid turns Chiefs’ final games into an audition
Reid struck an optimistic tone publicly, but his words carried an unmistakable edge.
“We’re finding out a lot about our team,” Reid said, emphasizing that younger players are being thrust into larger roles and that the coaching staff will be paying close attention to how the group responds.
He also made a point to remind everyone that roster spots are never guaranteed in Kansas City, noting general manager Brett Veach’s willingness to reshape the team when necessary. That comment landed squarely in the direction of players like Minshew.
Chiefs HC Andy Reid on Gardner Minshew and the next three weeks being an audition: "He has an opportunty and he wants to do well. It's great for him career-wise, whether it's here or somewhere else."
— Charles Goldman (@goldmctNFL) December 17, 2025
Gardner Minshew’s unexpected audition begins
Minshew arrived in Kansas City knowing his role: hold the clipboard, support Mahomes, and step in only if disaster struck. Disaster struck in Week 15.
Now, Minshew is set to finish the season as the Chiefs’ starting quarterback, turning what was supposed to be a quiet one-year backup job into a high-stakes audition. He’s one of more than 20 Chiefs scheduled to hit free agency after the season, and the final three games could determine whether his stay in Kansas City extends beyond this season.
The timing is brutal but also opportunistic. Mahomes is expected to miss several months while in recovery, and even if he’s ready by the start of the 2026 season, Kansas City will need stability at the position throughout the offseason program. A strong showing from Minshew could earn him a longer stay, or at least a future role somewhere else.
Minshew’s brief appearance against the Chargers ended in disappointment. Entering late in a must-win situation, he completed three of five passes before throwing a costly interception that sealed Kansas City’s loss and officially ended its playoff hopes.
But now, with the postseason no longer in play, Reid and his staff can evaluate players without the urgency of survival mode. That includes Minshew, who now has three games to show command of the offense, composure under pressure, and the leadership Reid values so highly.
The Chiefs may be out of the playoff race, but Reid’s message suggests the next three weeks will shape the roster long after the final whistle of Week 18. Effort, preparation, and performance will matter, and players who fail to show urgency may find themselves on the outside looking in come 2026.
Minshew’s first full test comes Sunday against a struggling Tennessee Titans team. A steady performance could reopen doors, but a bad one could close them just as quickly.
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