The New Orleans Saints may have stumbled out of the gate this season, but they’ve found their footing-and their quarterback. Rookie Tyler Shough, the No. 40 overall pick out of Louisville, has taken the reins of the offense and completely flipped the script in New Orleans.
After a 1-7 start, the Saints have rattled off four straight wins with Shough under center, marking their longest winning streak since the Drew Brees era. And the rookie’s fingerprints are all over this turnaround.
It wasn’t always Shough’s job to lose. During the offseason, he and fellow rookie Spencer Rattler were locked in a tight quarterback competition.
Head coach Kellen Moore initially handed the starting role to Rattler, but after a rough start to the season, Moore made the switch. Since then, the Saints have gone 5-3 with Shough at the helm, and suddenly, a season that looked lost now has a pulse.
What’s changed? Simply put: the offense has come alive.
Shough has brought poise, efficiency, and a spark that the Saints desperately needed. He’s not just managing games-he’s elevating the entire unit.
Over the past four games, he’s been lights out, and the numbers back it up. In Sunday’s comeback win over the Titans, Shough completed 81.4% of his passes for 333 yards, two touchdowns, and no interceptions.
That’s surgical precision, especially for a rookie still adjusting to the speed and complexity of the NFL.
Zoom out a bit, and the consistency becomes even more impressive. Over his last three games, Shough has completed 72% of his 108 pass attempts, thrown four touchdowns, and hasn’t turned the ball over once.
His passer rating during that stretch? A rock-solid 109.8.
Those aren’t just good rookie numbers-they’re top-tier quarterback numbers, period.
And people are taking notice.
Matt Ryan, the former NFL MVP and now CBS Sports analyst, didn’t mince words after watching Shough lead the Saints to victory. “Week in and week out, he has produced,” Ryan said.
“Tyler Shough has come in and provided a spark for them. I think they have found their guy moving forward.”
That’s high praise from a quarterback who knows a thing or two about franchise leadership. And it echoes what Louisville fans have been saying since the summer.
From the moment Shough was drafted-over names like Shedeur Sanders and others-there was skepticism. Critics questioned whether the Saints had reached.
But now, with Shough thriving and the team surging, it’s those same critics who are being proven wrong.
Shough’s rise has also shaken up the Offensive Rookie of the Year race. He’s now in a tight battle with Panthers wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan, and if he keeps playing at this level, it’s going to be hard to deny him the hardware. He’s not just playing well for a rookie-he’s playing like a veteran leader, and more importantly, like a quarterback who can be the long-term answer in New Orleans.
The Saints are still sitting at 6-10, but the vibe around this team is completely different. With Shough under center, there’s hope, momentum, and belief. For a franchise that’s been searching for its next star under center since Brees retired, that’s no small thing.
Tyler Shough has arrived. And if this stretch is any indication, he’s just getting started.