Kansas City, Mo. — After slipping to the seventh round of the 2026 NFL Draft, quarterback Garrett Nussmeier has earned a chance to make the Kansas City Chiefs roster as the team prepares for its preseason finale against Seattle.
“I’m super grateful to be here,” Nussmeier said. “I wake up and this is my life right now. It’s humbling, but awesome.” The 22‑year‑old will be learning from two veteran starters, Patrick Mahomes and Justin Fields, and from head coach Andy Reid, who is known for developing quarterbacks.
Learning from the best
Mahomes, a two‑time MVP and three‑time Super Bowl champion, offers Nussmeier a model of what a first‑round pick can achieve. Fields, also a first‑rounder, provides a contrasting path, having moved among several teams while striving to meet high expectations. Reid’s reputation as a quarterback whisperer adds another layer of mentorship.
“Anything he says I try to listen and take notes, even if he’s not talking to me,” Nussmeier said of Reid. He noted that the coach’s guidance can be as subtle as a tweak in footwork or a shift in eye focus.
Preseason opportunity
With Mahomes recovering from knee surgery and Fields receiving limited snaps, Nussmeier has seen extended playing time in the Chiefs’ first two preseason games. Despite operating behind a backup offensive line and a deep group of receivers and running backs, he has impressed the coaching staff.
“Every time he’s in, he moves the ball,” Reid said. “He works hard, knows the details – his dad coached him growing up – and we’ve loaded him up.”
Background and draft slide
Nussmeier grew up moving across the United States and Canada as his father, Doug Nussmeier, coached at various programs; Doug is now the offensive coordinator for the New Orleans Saints. Garrett excelled as a high‑school quarterback in Texas before starring at LSU, where he threw for more than 4,000 yards and 29 touchdowns in his junior season. An abdominal injury and a 5‑4 record as a starter in his final college year caused his draft stock to fall.
After the Chiefs selected him, the team has kept only two quarterbacks on the active roster historically, stashing a third on the practice squad. Nussmeier’s preseason performance, however, suggests he could earn a spot on the active roster rather than being relegated to the practice squad.
Looking ahead
If the Chiefs decide to move him to the practice squad, another team could claim him, given his potential. For now, Nussmeier remains focused on learning, improving, and proving he belongs on a Super Bowl‑contending roster.
Original reporting: Alexandria, VA News – WTOP News — read the source article.
