It’s time for another new start at quarterback in the Big Easy.
After eight starts to begin the 2025 season, Spencer Rattler’s time is up and Tyler Shough is set to make his first career NFL start.
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New Orleans Saints head coach Kellen Moore benched Rattler midway through the Week 7 defeat to Tampa Bay Buccaneers and put rookie Tyler Shough into the game – now Moore is rolling with his rookie quarterback.
Shough gets his first start Sunday when the Saints travel to Los Angeles to face the Rams, who look every bit the part of a Super Bowl contender.
The Saints have struggled this season, sitting at a lowly 1–7, which prompted the change. Rattler has led the way the whole season with very little success and has now been benched after posting a 1–13 record in his first 14 career starts.
Shough took over in the third quarter of Sunday’s 23–3 loss to the Bucs, finishing 15 of 21 for 136 yards and one interception, Moore giving his reasons postgame for the change.
“We just needed to find a way to create something on offense,” Moore said.
“It has more to do with the offense collectively. We’re just not executing and playing at a high enough standard and we gotta find a way to move the football consistently, protect the football and score points.
“This is a pure full offensive evaluation point. We’re just not there.”
With the 40th overall pick in this year’s draft, the Saints chose the then 25-year-old quarterback, marking the second-highest draft position for a Saints QB in the common draft era, behind only Archie Manning in 1971.
Manning was drafted second overall.
Shough, who turned 26 at the end of September, is among the oldest rookies in NFL history, in large part because he stuck around at the collegiate level far longer than most. He enjoyed a notable seven-year college career, playing at Oregon and Texas Tech before finishing at Louisville.
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It’s Shough’s show nowCredit: Getty
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Rattler was able to hold off the rookie in training camp but has now been benchedCredit: Getty
In his single season at Louisville, Shough threw for 3,195 yards with 23 touchdowns and six interceptions, completing 62.7% of his passes. Over the course of his college career, he compiled a 21–11 record.
Shough’s selection was controversial due to his age, with Newsweek’s Matt Galatzan even labeling the Saints’ choice the “worst pick.”
“Worst Pick: Tyler Shough, QB, Louisville,” Galatzan wrote.
“Tyler Shough was a questionable pick for a variety of reasons. He’s 26 years old as a rookie with seven years of college experience and multiple injury issues in his past.
“He had one good season in his college career in his final season with Louisville. There is talent, but it feels like a reach this early in Round 2.”
For perspective, Shough graduated high school in 2018.
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However, none of that matters now, as he appears poised to become the latest hope in New Orleans as the team struggles to find an answer under center since Drew Brees’ retirement in 2020.
And he is ready for the challenge. He appeared on the St. Brown Podcast last spring, after the draft, and noted how everything he has gone through in his football journey will prepare him to be a starter in the NFL.
“I think for me and what I’ve been through: I’ve been carted off the field, I’ve been booed, I’ve been an MVP, I’ve been a starter, I’ve been a backup to [Justin] Herbert — I’m like, throw some s— at me, you’re not going to faze me if we start off 0-2 or I f—— suck,” Shough said.
“It’s going to be fine. That’s what I was excited about, that opportunity, or any opportunity, and I think, going into it, I’ve got to continue to get to know the guys; like I said earlier, I’m still a rookie. I may be older, but I have to earn the respect of everybody and do my job.”
After the Rams, the Saints face the Panthers, have a bye week, then take on the Falcons and Dolphins.
Moore is going to see what exactly his rookie quarterback is capable of over the next month and if they have something to look forward to for the future.
If not, it could be another long offseason in the Big Easy as the franchise once again searches for answers at the game’s most important position.
If it’s another miss with Shough the number one pick at next April’s NFL Draft in Pittsburgh beckons.
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