Gardner Minshew is a quarterback for the Jacksonville Jaguars of the NFL.
He played college football at East Carolina before transferring to Washington State, and was drafted by the Jaguars in the sixth round of the 2019 NFL Draft.
Following an injury to starter Nick Foles in the opening game of 2019, Minshew took over starting duties and performed admirably. When Foles returned and played poorly, Minshew was reinstated as starter.
Minshew's pass 88% completion percentage is the highest of any player making his debut in NFL history, and also the highest single-game pass completion percentage in Jaguars history.
Minshew attended Brandon High School in Brandon, Mississippi where he played quarterback for the Brandon Bulldogs from 2011–2014. During his sophomore year in 2012, he led the Bulldogs to the 6A Mississippi Championship game. In his senior season, Minshew led the Bulldogs to a South 6A championship.
Minshew compiled 9,705 passing yards, and 88 touchdowns on a 58.8 completion percentage throughout his high school career.
Minshew transferred to East Carolina University in 2016, where he played in seven games with two starts at QB for the Pirates. Minshew finished the year with 2,140 yards passing and 16 touchdowns for the Pirates, and received his bachelor's degree in December 2017.
In the fall of 2018, Minshew enrolled as a graduate student at Washington State. Minshew ended up leading the FBS in pass completions (433), pass attempts (613), passing yards per game (367.6), was second in passing yards (4,477) and finished in the top five in touchdowns (38). During Washington State's Alamo Bowl win over Iowa State, Minshew reached the Pac-12 single season record for most passing yards, a record previously held by Jared Goff.
Minshew was drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the sixth round of the 2019 NFL Draft. Minshew made his NFL debut against the Kansas City Chiefs, where he completed 22-of-25 passes for 275 yards, two touchdowns and an interception in the 40–26 loss. Minshew completed 88% of his passes that game, which is the highest debut in NFL history, and also the highest single-game pass completion percentage in Jaguars history. Minshew was named the starter going forward after it was revealed that Foles had suffered a broken clavicle.
During the 2020 off-season, Foles was traded to the Chicago Bears making Minshew the starter for the 2020 NFL season. He became the first quarterback in NFL history to throw for at least three touchdowns and complete at least 95% of his passes in a Week 1 game.
Minshew does not have any reported endorsements, but that shouldn’t last too long. He did however receive an endorsement offer worth up to $1 million from CamSoda, a pornography streaming service. Minshew declined.
Minshew signed a 4 year, $2.7 million contract with the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2019.
Minshew is a very private human being despite being the starting quarterback for an NFL team, a legitimately impressive feat. His parents are Kim and Flint Minshew. Minshew played all types of sports growing up, and his competitive spirit was there from the beginning.
According to his father, when Minshew was a kid playing in a soccer game, the game went on to penalty shootouts. After Minshew’s team won, his dad asked him if he was nervous. His response? “I would have been nervous if anybody else was out there.”
So while we don’t know too much about a younger Minshew, we do know he was a stone cold killer.
Affiliate Disclosure: Lines may receive advertising commissions for visits to a sportsbook or betting site.