Chiefs Rookie Qb Garrett Nussmeier On Playing Preseason: ‘i’ll Be Ready’

A year can be an eternity at any level of football.

Few predicted 12 months ago the current status of Kansas City Chiefs’ rookie quarterback Garrett Nussmeier. Last August, Nussmeier led the preseason No. 9-ranked LSU Tigers and was an early co-favorite to win the 2025 Heisman Trophy. Many predicted Nussmeier’s senior season would boost him to the top of the NFL Draft.

It was not meant to be. Nussmeier attempted to play through a season-long abdominal injury, but he was ineffective and eventually replaced as LSU’s starter. On draft weekend, the player once seen as a certain top-ten selection lingered deep into the process until the Chiefs called his name with the 248th selection.

Speaking after Friday’s training camp practice at Missouri Western State University in St. Joseph, Nussmeier admitted that his current gig is a bit different than how he entered last season at LSU. He remains thankful for the opportunity in Kansas City to continue his playing career.

“It’s an awesome experience,” remarked the rookie. “I’m super grateful to be here. This is something I’ve dreamed about my entire life. At the end of the day, I’m super blessed and am super grateful that I’m in the NFL. I thank God each and every day when I wake up that this is my life right now. I try to make the most of it. It’s definitely different. It’s a little bit of a humbling experience, but it’s awesome.”

Nussmeier suddenly finds himself behind the face of the league in starter Patrick Mahomes and another veteran backup in Justin Fields.

“I’m in such a great room,” declared Nussmeier, “with two great quarterbacks — two great vets in front of me — with Justin and Pat. I’m just trying to learn everything I can from them. I spend as much time around Pat as I can to see his routines and things like that. I just continue to try and make myself better by being around them.”

The son of New Orleans Saints offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier also appreciates what he can take in from the league’s longest tenured head coach in Andy Reid.

“I’m just trying to learn and grow in many different areas of my game,” Nussmeier explained. “Being around a legendary coach like that who’s had a lot of experience with some really great quarterbacks — anything that he says, I try to listen and take notes. Even if he’s not talking to me — if he’s talking to Pat or if he’s talking to Justin — I’m trying to soak up as much knowledge as I can around him.”

Speaking on Friday, Reid praised the quarterback for everything he has shown in St. Joe.

“Every time he’s in, he moves the ball,” the coach observed. “I look at that. Any of the mistakes we’ll correct as we go, but his pass production has been a real positive. He gets it. He works hard at it. His dad’s a coach. He grew up that way knowing about detail. He’s doing a nice job — and we’ve loaded him up. We haven’t pulled back on anything with him as far as volume, and he’s handled it.”

The rookie would not want Reid to pull back on him in any way.

“It’s been awesome,” Nussmeier stated. “It’s a lot of thinking. There’s a lot of complexity in our offense. That’s how I would want it as a quarterback. I’m a coach’s kid. I’m a kid who has grown up around this game. I love the different schemes. I love the different ways to attack. We do so many different awesome things here. It’s been awesome for me and a good challenge for me — and it’s helped me grow my knowledge of the game.”

Chiefs fans will likely see plenty of Nussmeier over the team’s three-game exhibition slate — beginning on August 15 at Arrowhead Stadium against the Los Angeles Rams. Reid essentially confirmed on Friday that Mahomes would not play in the preseason opener as he continues his way back from a season-ending knee injury last December. Reid also did not commit to the star playing at all in the preseason.

As of Friday, Nussmeier had no insight on how the other three quarterbacks in camp would divide passing duties next weekend. But Chiefs fans should expect to see his best whenever his name is called.

“I’m super grateful for the opportunity,” said Nussmeier, “and whenever I get to play, I’ll be ready.”