Blaine Gabbert spent years backing up Tom Brady on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and he says Patrick Mahomes is just like the seven-time Super Bowl champion.
The Kansas City Chiefs needed a quarterback this offseason to backup two-time NFL MVP Patrick Mahomes. After spending five years with the Chiefs and 15 years in the NFL, Chad Henne retired. So, the team decided to sign another quality backup option in Blaine Gabbert, who spent the previous four years with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers backing up Tom Brady.
While meeting with the media this week at organized team activities, Gabbert compared what it’s like working with both Brady and Mahomes, two of the top quarterbacks in the game in recent memory. Gabbert said that both are “maniacal perfectionists.”
“And I mean that in the most endearing way possible,” said Gabbert, h/t Chiefs Wire. “They are the two best, in my opinion, to ever play the game. To see the similarities and how they operate, meeting rooms, practice field. Now, they are completely different players as we all know, but the way they approach the game on and off the football field is the exact same way and you can see why both have had sustained success, early on, and throughout their careers.”
Blaine Gabbert calls Patrick Mahomes and Tom Brady ‘maniacal perfectionists’
Imagine being able to back up Brady, who won seven Super Bowl titles during his playing career, and signing with the Chiefs, who have the best chances of being that next New England Patriots-type dynasty? That’s quite the gig for Gabbert.
Back in 2011, Gabbert was one of the top quarterback prospects in that NFL Draft class. Spending his collegiate career at Missouri, Gabbert was the third quarterback drafted, being selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars with the 10th overall pick. While Gabbert didn’t turn out to be the franchise’s starting quarterback of the future, he then pivoted to becoming a backup, playing for the San Francisco 49ers (2014-16), Arizona Cardinals (2017), and Tennessee Titans (2018).
In his four years with the Buccaneers, Gabbert threw for 239 yards and three touchdowns while completing 22-of-35 pass attempts.
The Chiefs prioritized having a more than a competent backup option in case Mahomes were to suffer an injury. Henne filled that role perfectly, especially in the team’s Divisional Round game against the Jaguars this past season. Chiefs fans hope that Gabbert can thrive in that role as well.
As for working with Mahomes, Gabbert says that it’s no different than when he worked alongside Brady.