Ex Jaguars QB Gardner Minshew hasn't changed one bit, that's why everybody likes him

Quarterback Gardner Minshew took the NFL by storm in 2019. Stepping in for an ineffective Nick Foles, he gave the Jacksonville Jaguars a spark in an otherwise unremarkable season. Although Minshew is no longer with the Jags his still the same mustachioed player that gained everyone's heart as a rookie.

Minshew, now with the Indianapolis Colts, recently made headlines because he still drives the same Acura he had in college. Similarly, he hasn't thought of replacing the same mattress he found next to a dumpster several years ago.

In a recent profile, Ryan Hockensmith took a look and Minshew and the things that make him stand out. Besides sharing the car anecdote, Hockensmith took a look at the quarterback's acclimation to his new team and the approach he takes to football. The whole article is worth reading and here's the link in case you want to give it a look.

This isn't the first time Minshew makes the headlines for his laid-back, out of the norm personality. Dating back to his stint with the Jaguars, he made news because he had a mullet and would later change his hairstyle. Also, it's not common for current players to have a mustache, which is why stands out from other signal-callers.

Minshew saw an article about mustaches getting banned in North Korea and asked U.S. President Joe Biden on social media what they were doing about it. Back when he was competing with a then-rookie Trevor Lawrence for the starting job at quarterback, he said he hadn't relieved himself in weeks in preparation for the battle.

Gardner Minshew was a positive for the Jaguars in 2019

The Jaguars went 5-11 in 2019 but Gardner Minshew showed promise, completing 60.63 percent of his passes for 3,271 yards with 21 touchdowns and six interceptions. However, his success didn't carry over into the 2020 season, and was eventually benched.

Even though Minshew wasn't the reason the Jags went 1-15 in 2020, he certainly didn't help, which is why they didn't hesitate to draft Trevor Lawrence first overall the following year. During the offseason Minshew made it known that he wanted to get a chance to compete for a starting job, and he did battle Lawrence early in training camp but was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles after the first preseason game.

Minshew spent two years backing up Jalen Hurts and followed Shane Steichen, his offensive coordinator in Philly, to the Colts. Now, he's in the driver's seat to start in the opener. While he most likely pave way for Anthony Richardson once he's ready, Minshew will have the chance to make a strong impression and if he does, he could keep the starting job for a significant portion if not all the 2023 season.

Looking back, the Jaguars needed to move on from Minshew to make room for Lawrence but that doesn't diminish he had as a rookie and although he now suits up for the division rival Colts, he's still the same player he was in Jacksonville, which makes it easy to root for him (unless the Jags play Indy, of course).

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