What did Eagles' Backup QB Gardner Minshew say about Mike Leach?

At college football icon Mike Leach's funeral ceremony on Tuesday, Gardner Minshew spoke to the gathering and even dropped an f-bomb while paying tribute to his old coach.

Gardner Minshew, the backup quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles, missed walk-through practice on Tuesday to give a speech at Mike Leach's funeral service, wherein he and numerous others recalled the seasoned coach with affection.

Despite their brief time around each other, Minshew's single campaign of playing for Mike Leach at Washington State significantly influenced him.

Addressing the crowd at the funeral at Humphrey Coliseum on the Mississippi State school grounds, Minshew remarked, "Probably my favorite thing about being a coach is that absolute courage of just being yourself, and I think that's one of the things that he rubbed off on me."

"And man, my life and football outside of it — that's one of the biggest blessings and lessons I've learned," he continued.

Ross Dellenger of Sports Illustrated quoted Minshew as saying, "He genuinely didn't care and gave a f—k what others thought."

From 2012 through 2019, Mike Leach served as a coach at Washington State. Due to difficulties from a cardiac issue, he passed away on Monday. He was 61. Leach was regarded as an innovative coach and a revolutionary. Minshew opted to memorialize him in that light.

If Jalen Hurts of the Philadelphia Eagles doesn't heal from an injured throwing shoulder in time for Saturday's game against the Dallas Cowboys, Gardner Minshew might start in his place.

How did Gardner Minshew perform at Washington State?

Gardner Minshew had a unique journey to play under Leach, first at Troy before moving on to Northwest Mississippi Community College and then East Carolina. In 2018, he transferred as a graduate student to Washington State.

After two underwhelming seasons in East Carolina, Minshew was the nation's top passer in Washington. The Jacksonville Jaguars selected him in the sixth round of the draft after he won the PAC-12 Offensive Player of the Year award.

Behind Dwayne Haskins of Ohio State, Minshew completed 70.7 percent of his passes for 4,776 yards, 38 touchdowns, and nine interceptions—the second-highest total in Division I college football history. The squad completed the season on a high note with an 11-2 record and the No. 10 national ranking.

The Jacksonville Jaguars selected him in the sixth round of the 2019 NFL Draft thanks to his 3-touchdown performance and top-5 Heisman Trophy finish.