Gardner Minshew II sets two goals for himself every time he steps on a football field: "Get better and have fun."
Those goals have been apparent to football fans since "Minshew Mania" becoming a craze in college and following him to when he entered the NFL in 2019. The veteran quarterback has become notable for being a unique personality, living life with a bit of a twist. His infectious energy and style captivate both his teammates and fanbases wherever he's played, with his custom-made jorts, a trademark mustache and vintage hair flow resembling Uncle Rico from the movie "Napoleon Dynamite."
"I have the confidence to be myself in every situation," Minshew told Raiders.com. "I just always want to show up and try my best, and I think if I do that, not much can go wrong. ... You've got to look for things in your game that you can improve, but also you got to look for ways to enjoy it. You've got to look for the people around you that you enjoy being with every day."
Minshew arrives to Las Vegas after a Pro Bowl season with the Colts in 2023, where he stepped up as starter in place of injured rookie Anthony Richardson. The career season in Indianapolis was reminiscent of his rookie year with the Jacksonville Jaguars, taking the reins when former Super Bowl MVP Nick Foles went down with an injury. In both 2019 and 2023, Minshew threw for over 3,000 passing yards with a combined 41 touchdowns between the two seasons.
The Raiders' new quarterback has an interesting history with the team prior to his arrival.
A Mississippi native, Minshew patterned his game after Hall of Fame quarterback Ken Stabler, who he had the pleasure of meeting as a child at a football camp. He also has a 2-0 record against the Silver and Black, the first win coming in the final football game at Oakland Coliseum and the second, a narrow win last season where Maxx Crosby infamously tried to get in Minshew's psyche with a few choice words.
"What was going through my mind is, 'I got to beat this dude,'" Minshew recalled of the trash talk from Crosby. "Shoot, he's trying to hit me and I'm just trying to win. I'm so excited because now with him and Christian [Wilkins], I know how those guys are and what they're about.
"That's what makes you better, when teams really compete and push each other, so I'm so excited to be going at it every day with those dudes."
It can be expected that he'll arrive to his locker room with the same mentality that's propelled him to success throughout his career. He knows nothing will be given to him, and it'll be a stiff competition for the starting role at quarterback.
But even with his fun-loving persona and beaming smile under his mustache, he made one thing abundantly clear.
"The first thing is, I want to be able to win," Minshew said bluntly. "I feel like we have the tools here; we have the pieces here. To be a part of a winning culture with guys who are like-minded, who want to win, is all I can really ask for.
"I love the work. I love the hard practices. I love the s– talking. That's all stuff that I think is really fun and I'm excited to get going here."
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Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Gardner Minshew arrives at Las Vegas Raiders Headquarters.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Gardner Minshew arrives at Las Vegas Raiders Headquarters.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Christian Wilkins arrives at Las Vegas Raiders Headquarters.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Christian Wilkins arrives at Las Vegas Raiders Headquarters.
Defensive tackle Christian Wilkins signs a contract with the Las Vegas Raiders at Las Vegas Raiders Headquarters.
Defensive tackle Christian Wilkins signs a contract with the Las Vegas Raiders at Las Vegas Raiders Headquarters.
Defensive tackle Christian Wilkins signs a contract with the Las Vegas Raiders at Las Vegas Raiders Headquarters.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Gardner Minshew signs a contract with the Las Vegas Raiders at Las Vegas Raiders Headquarters.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Gardner Minshew signs a contract with the Las Vegas Raiders at Las Vegas Raiders Headquarters.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Gardner Minshew signs a contract with the Las Vegas Raiders at Las Vegas Raiders Headquarters.
A duffle bag for Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Christian Wilkins in the equipment room at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
A duffle bag for Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Gardner Minshew in the equipment room at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Christian Wilkins during a tour of Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Gardner Minshew during a tour of Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Christian Wilkins during a tour of Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Christian Wilkins in the equipment room during a tour of Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Christian Wilkins tries a helmet in the equipment room during a tour of Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Christian Wilkins tries a helmet in the equipment room during a tour of Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Christian Wilkins tries a helmet in the equipment room during a tour of Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Christian Wilkins tries a helmet in the equipment room during a tour of Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Christian Wilkins tries a helmet in the equipment room during a tour of Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Christian Wilkins tries a helmet in the equipment room during a tour of Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Gardner Minshew in the equipment room during a tour of Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Gardner Minshew tries on a helmet in the equipment room during a tour of Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Gardner Minshew tries on a helmet in the equipment room during a tour of Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Christian Wilkins in the locker room during a tour of Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Christian Wilkins in the locker room during a tour of Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Christian Wilkins and quarterback Gardner Minshew in the locker room during a tour of Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Christian Wilkins in the locker room during a tour of Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Christian Wilkins in the locker room during a tour of Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Gardner Minshew in the locker room during a tour of Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Christian Wilkins in the locker room during a tour of Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Christian Wilkins in the weight room during a tour of Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Gardner Minshew in the weight room during a tour of Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Christian Wilkins meets head strength and conditioning coach A.J. Neibel in the weight room during a tour of Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Gardner Minshew meets head strength and conditioning coach A.J. Neibel in the weight room during a tour of Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Christian Wilkins in the weight room during a tour of Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Gardner Minshew meets tight end Michael Mayer (87) on the indoor field during a tour of Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Christian Wilkins meets center Andre James (68) in the weight room during a tour of Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Gardner Minshew in the weight room during a tour of Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Gardner Minshew meets center Andre James (68) in the weight room during a tour of Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Gardner Minshew meets center Andre James (68) in the weight room during a tour of Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Gardner Minshew during a tour of Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Christian Wilkins during a tour of Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Christian Wilkins during a tour of Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Christian Wilkins meets tight end Michael Mayer (87) in the weight room during a tour of Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Christian Wilkins meets defensive end Maxx Crosby (98) during a tour of Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Gardner Minshew meets defensive end Maxx Crosby (98) during a tour of Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Christian Wilkins poses for a photo on the indoor field at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Christian Wilkins poses for a photo on the indoor field at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Gardner Minshew poses for a photo on the indoor field at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Christian Wilkins during a press conference at Las Vegas Raiders Headquarters.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Christian Wilkins during a press conference at Las Vegas Raiders Headquarters.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Christian Wilkins during a press conference at Las Vegas Raiders Headquarters.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Christian Wilkins during a press conference at Las Vegas Raiders Headquarters.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Christian Wilkins during a press conference at Las Vegas Raiders Headquarters.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Gardner Minshew during a press conference at Las Vegas Raiders Headquarters.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Gardner Minshew during a press conference at Las Vegas Raiders Headquarters.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Gardner Minshew during a press conference at Las Vegas Raiders Headquarters.
Tight end Harrison Bryant signs a contract with the Las Vegas Raiders at Las Vegas Raiders Headquarters.
Tight end Harrison Bryant signs a contract with the Las Vegas Raiders at Las Vegas Raiders Headquarters.
Tight end Harrison Bryant signs a contract with the Las Vegas Raiders at Las Vegas Raiders Headquarters.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Harrison Bryant poses for a photo on the indoor field at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Harrison Bryant poses for a photo on the indoor field at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Harrison Bryant in the equipment room during a tour of Las Vegas Raiders Headquarters.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Harrison Bryant tries on a helmet in the equipment room during a tour of Las Vegas Raiders Headquarters.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Harrison Bryant tries on a helmet in the equipment room during a tour of Las Vegas Raiders Headquarters.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Harrison Bryant in the locker room during a tour of Las Vegas Raiders Headquarters.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Harrison Bryant in the weight room during a tour of Las Vegas Raiders Headquarters.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Harrison Bryant speaks with head strength and conditioning coach A.J. Neibel in the weight room during a tour of Las Vegas Raiders Headquarters.
