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It’s not a flashback to the 1970s: Birds fans wearing headbands, aviator glasses, and fake moustaches are just repping quarterback Gardner Minshew II.
With Jalen Hurts out due to a hurt ankle, the backup QB made his first Philadelphia start at the home of the New York Jets on Sunday. He turned it into his first win, putting in an impressive performance that started with a perfect first half and a 33-18 Eagles victory.
Acquired by Philly in August, Minshew gained acclaim during his short time in Jacksonville, partly because of his talent — and partly because of his style.
As a rookie QB in 2019, his first three games in Florida set NFL records. After the Jaguar’s regular quarterback (Nick Foles, btw) recovered from injury, Minshew returned to his backup position.
But fan enthusiasm hardly dampened for the Mississippi native, whose grandad apparently wanted him to be named Beowulf. His fashion choices, on-field prowess, and chillax attitude earned him a large following and inspired the phrase “Minshew Mania.”
Here’s a rundown of the parts that make up the 25-year-old’s unique look.
About that moustache
The ‘stache legend began in college, where Minshew’s bushy-faced play led his teammates at Washington State to a record season. When he hit the NFL, its edges crept longer, and inspired a Wall Street Journal trend piece about fans growing their own Fu Manchu.
During the pandemic, the facial hair morphed into a beard that covered more of Minshew’s face, but after joining the Eagles, he shaved the chin and returned to a classic Burt Reynolds look.
A mullet’s rise and fall
All business in the front and party in the back was a way of life for Minshew, who took great pride in his mullet.
Last April he got poetic about a slight shift in the style, posting that a new hairdresser had him saying farewell to “the Dirty Diesel Drapery” and replacing it with a more refined mullet he dubbed the “Platinum Power Pelt.”
A few months later, he went and chopped off the tail, leading to headlines about fans mourning the mullet’s loss.
The bodacious headband
Whether the back of his hair is long or short, Minshew always looks ready for a night at the disco or a date with a flower child, thanks to his signature headband.
The thick sash drawn across his forehead has come in many flavors, from a folded bandana to kamikaze-style tie. This thing’s value goes beyond keeping the sweat out of his eyes; it’s a statement of confidence.
Allll the aviator accessories
Biden who? Minshew might now be the Philly region’s biggest proponent of aviator-style sunglasses. His face is almost never without the glinting gold rims and dark ovoid lenses.
Minshew also sometimes channels “Top Gun” by pairing the shades with a classic bomber jacket.
Jorts, the DIY kind
Moving down on the quarterback’s 6-foot-1 frame brings you to his last signature fashion item: the jorts.
It’s up for debate whether cut-off jeans shorts on men are a faux pas or the sexiest thing around, but we know two things about them and Minshew. One, they’re his favorite piece of clothing — he was wearing jorts (and only jorts) when he got picked in the NFL Draft — and two, he cuts his own.
Put together, it’s a style Philadelphians could grow to love.
