Tyler Shough’s Rookie Rise Gives Saints Fans a Reason to Believe Again
You don’t put together a list of New Orleans Saints season superlatives without mentioning Tyler Shough - and not just in passing. The rookie quarterback didn’t just make noise in his first NFL season; he made a statement.
While Chris Olave narrowly edged him out for team MVP honors, Shough walked away with plenty of hardware of his own, including Saints Offensive Player of the Year and a share of the Biggest Surprise award. And honestly, it’s hard to argue with any of it.
Shough suited up in 11 games, starting nine of them. That may not seem like a huge sample size, but it was more than enough for him to break multiple Saints rookie quarterback records.
Sure, the bar for rookie passers in New Orleans might not be the highest historically - but that doesn’t take away from what Shough accomplished. He passed the eye test with flying colors and gave this fan base something it’s been starving for: hope under center.
A Rookie Quarterback Who Changed the Temperature in the Room
When you draft a quarterback, especially one expected to eventually lead the franchise, the hope is that he’ll change the team’s trajectory. That kind of turnaround doesn’t usually happen overnight - and it certainly doesn’t tend to happen in just nine starts.
But that’s exactly what Shough began to do. No, it wasn’t a Jayden Daniels-level leap to the NFC Championship Game, but it was still a clear turning point for a Saints team that’s been searching for direction post-Drew Brees.
What stood out most about Shough’s rookie campaign wasn’t just the numbers - it was the way he elevated everyone around him. And that’s the hallmark of a true franchise quarterback.
Shough Thrived While the Offense Around Him Unraveled
Here’s the thing: Shough didn’t have the luxury of a fully loaded offense. As the season wore on, the Saints’ skill position group was decimated.
By the time Week 18 rolled around, he was throwing to Ronnie Bell - a player who hadn’t recorded a single catch before the season finale. And yet, with the game on the line, Shough found Bell in the closing minutes for a touchdown.
That’s not just a stat line filler. That’s a quarterback making the most of what’s around him - or what’s left.
To put it in perspective: by the final game of the season, the only Week 1 offensive starter still on the field was tight end Juwan Johnson. The Saints had lost their top three running backs to injury.
Chris Olave missed the finale due to blood clots. Devaughn Vele was sidelined with a late-season injury.
Rashid Shaheed and Brandin Cooks had both moved on to other teams. That’s not just a depleted offense - that’s a skeleton crew.
And yet, Shough kept the offense afloat. It wasn’t always pretty.
The Saints weren’t lighting up the scoreboard. But they were competing.
They were fighting. And more often than not, they were in games they had no business being in - because of their rookie quarterback.
What Comes Next: Building Around the Quarterback
Here’s the encouraging part for Saints fans: the conversation has shifted. This isn’t about trying to find a quarterback anymore.
It’s about building around one. Shough showed enough in his rookie campaign to earn that trust.
The tools are there - the poise, the arm talent, the leadership, the ability to make something out of nothing.
Now it’s on the front office to do its part. Give him better protection.
Give him a healthier, more stable group of weapons. Let him grow with a system that plays to his strengths.
Because if this is what Shough can do with a patchwork lineup and midseason chaos, imagine what he might look like with a full deck.
The Saints may not have made a playoff run this year, but they found something far more valuable: a quarterback who looks like he belongs. And for a franchise that’s been searching for answers at the most important position in football, that’s a win worth celebrating.