Tyler Shough’s weekend stop in Eugene turned into a small but notable Oregon football moment.
The New Orleans Saints quarterback was back at the Ducks’ indoor practice facility, where Oregon tight end Markus Dixon posted a video on his Instagram story showing Shough taking reps and making a throw. The sight of Shough back on campus immediately stood out, especially given the winding path his career has taken since he first arrived in Eugene.
Shough signed with Oregon as part of the program’s 2018 high school recruiting class and came in as a four-star prospect, according to 247Sports. He spent his first two seasons behind Justin Herbert in 2018 and 2019 before finally getting his shot as the Ducks’ starter in 2020.
That year was cut short by Covid, limiting Shough to seven games. Still, he put up 1,559 passing yards with 13 touchdowns and six interceptions. Oregon won the Pac-12 Championship Game and then fell in the Fiesta Bowl, finishing 4-3 overall.
After that season, Shough entered the transfer portal and moved on to Texas Tech, where he played from 2021 through 2023. Injuries repeatedly interrupted his time there, and after the 2023 season he transferred again, this time committing to Louisville.
His final college season in 2024 was his healthiest and most productive. Shough threw for 3,195 yards with 23 touchdowns and six interceptions for the Cardinals, then heard his name called in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft by the Saints.
Shough’s rookie year in New Orleans was strong enough to earn him PFWA All-Rookie Team honors. He started nine games and finished with 2,384 passing yards, 10 touchdowns and six interceptions.
His path also places him in a long line of Oregon quarterbacks who have gone on to start in the NFL. Justin Herbert of the Los Angeles Chargers and Bo Nix of the Denver Broncos are both in position to open the season as Week One starters.
Cleveland Browns quarterback Dillon Gabriel, who played his final college season at Oregon in 2024, started six games as a rookie last year and heads into training camp in a quarterback battle. Marcus Mariota, the most decorated Oregon quarterback in school history after winning the 2014 Heisman Trophy and leading the Ducks to a National Championship game appearance, started eight games last season for the Washington Commanders while Jayden Daniels was out.
With Daniels healthy again, Mariota is back in the backup role.
Shough’s return to the Oregon facility doesn’t change his NFL standing, but it does say something about the relationship he still has with the program. In the transfer-portal era, that kind of connection isn’t always guaranteed.
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