Tyler Shough is making a late-season push that’s turning heads-and possibly rewriting the Offensive Rookie of the Year race.
With just two games left on the schedule, the New Orleans Saints quarterback has surged into serious consideration for the award. Oddsmakers have taken notice too. What began as a long-shot bet-250-to-1 just a couple of weeks ago-has suddenly become a legitimate possibility, with Shough now sitting at 4-to-1 odds, trailing only Panthers wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan.
This kind of leap doesn’t happen by accident. It’s the product of steady growth, timely execution, and a quarterback who’s starting to find his rhythm at the right time.
Sunday's 29-6 win over the Jets was a showcase of just how far Shough has come. He threw for a career-high 308 yards, operating with poise and command in a game where the Saints offense looked sharper and more confident than it has in weeks.
When asked postgame about the growing Rookie of the Year buzz, Shough kept his focus on the team.
“That's obviously a great achievement,” he said. “But I think for us, that can be attained by finishing the season the right way with getting the victory next week and then the week after that.
So that's all I'm focused on right now. And we'll go from there.”
It’s the kind of answer you want from your quarterback-grounded, team-first, and locked in on the bigger picture. But make no mistake, Shough’s individual rise has been a major catalyst in the Saints' recent momentum. Since taking over as the starter, he’s gone 4-3, and more importantly, he’s brought a level of consistency and spark that this offense had been searching for.
Head coach Kellen Moore sees it too.
“I think that’s awesome,” Moore said of his quarterback being in the Rookie of the Year mix. “Tyler’s played some really good football. Our team has played much better football as the season’s progressed, so those things certainly don’t go without the guys around him and everyone kind of stepping up and playing better.
“Tyler’s brought a really positive spark to us, some consistency. … I love where he’s at.”
That consistency Moore mentioned? It’s been showing up in the details-Shough’s decision-making, his timing, and his ability to extend plays without forcing them.
He’s not just putting up numbers; he’s elevating the players around him. And that’s what separates good rookies from great ones.
The road ahead won’t be easy. The Saints finish the season with two straight road games-first against the Titans, then a divisional showdown with the Falcons. But if Shough can keep this momentum rolling and lead New Orleans to a strong finish, the Rookie of the Year conversation might look very different by season’s end.
For now, the Saints have found something in Tyler Shough. And if he keeps playing like this, they might have found more than just a hot hand-they might have found their future.