The transition from the gridiron to the parade route happened faster than we probably expected for New Orleans Saints Quarterback Tyler Shough. After wrapping up a rookie campaign, winning the Rookie of the Year, and exciting Saints fans everywhere, the Saints QB decided the offseason wasn’t for jetting off to exotic beaches…it was for digging roots into the Louisiana dirt.

Shough made headlines by declaring his intent to become a full-time resident of Louisiana during the offseason [https://www.neworleanssaints.com/news/morning-break-saints-mardi-gras-parade-grand-marshals-new-orleans-news-headlines-2-9-2026]. He publicly expressed a hunger for the true local experience, specifically name dropping crawfish boils, and the chaos of Mardi Gras season as his top priorities.

Turns out, some Krewes were listening…

Getting His Shot to Lead a Parade

The ambition to immerse himself in the Louisiana culture somehow manifested into a Grand Marshal position faster than anyone planned. Just weeks after settling into his offseason routine, the QB was spotted atop a Grand Marshal float for the Krewe of Pygmalion. Which was loaded with more Saints players as well.

Fans lined the streets on a Saturday night to see the new face of the franchise trade his helmet for a float. While looking for one of the custom football he was signing and throwing to the crowd. It served as the ultimate initiation for a player looking to bridge the gap between being a temporary resident, and a local fixture.

Embracing the Spirit of Louisiana

The move to stay local has resonated deeply with a fanbase that values loyalty as much as a winning record. Shough was not alone in his Carnival debut, as teammates like Erik McCoy and Foster Moreau joined him for the ride down the Uptown route.

While we got to witness Shough’s first taste of Mardi Gras, we’re probably unlikely to see his first taste of crawfish…that will probably be private. But you know someone is eventually going to ask about it, and we’ll find out just how deep into Louisiana culture Shough is getting.

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