The crazy story of Minshew Mania continued on Feb. 4 when the unlikeliest of players threw passes at the NFL Pro Bowl games. That man, of course, was former WSU QB Gardner Minshew. Although the AFC lost the games, and Minshew didn’t win any of the quarterback skills challenges, even the fact that he was there was an impressive feat, considering his history.
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Minshew shocked the world in 2018 when he came out of nowhere to win Pac-12 Player of the year in his first and only season with the WSU Cougars. He shocked the world again when he won six games as a rookie despite being a sixth-round draft pick. And in 2023, he showed the NFL what he’s made of, finishing with a 7-6 record for the Colts after replacing the injured Anthony Richardson.
Graduate transfer quarterback Gardner Minshew II celebrates after the Cougars’ victory against Utah on Saturday at Martin Stadium.
Minshew was named to the Pro Bowl as a replacement for Kansas City Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes, who is of course playing on the Super Bowl. He joins Drew Bledsoe (1994, ’96, ’97, 2002) and Mark Rypien (1989, ’91) as just the third WSU QB to compete in the Pro Bowl, an honor that he will always have on his resume.
Now entering free agency, it is not a lock that Minshew will get another chance to start on an NFL team. In a QB market that is likely to include former Super Bowl Champions Russell Wilson and Joe Flacco, three-time pro-bowler Kirk Cousins, and former No. 2 overall draft pick Justin Fields, the chances that a team views Minshew as their top choice are low.
“Ain’t no telling man,” Minshew told NFL.com when asked at the Pro Bowl about his future in the NFL. “I’m just super proud of the season we had…wish it would’ve never ended.”
Despite the uncertainty, Minshew still has a lot of life ahead of him to continue proving himself as an athlete and a leader. History tells us that he’s up to the challenge.
