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New Orleans Saints quarterback Tyler Shough shared major personal news on Instagram, announcing that he and his wife welcomed their first child, a son named Grayson DuBois Shough, on February 18, 2026.
It’s a big moment for Shough off the field as he heads into an important offseason on it, with the Saints’ quarterback situation still one of the biggest storylines in New Orleans.
Saints News: Shough shares baby announcement on Instagram
Shough posted the update on Instagram, introducing Grayson DuBois Shough and celebrating the newest addition to his family. The Saints also publicly congratulated the couple, amplifying the news across the team’s social channels.
For fans, it’s the kind of life update that lands right in the heart of the NFL calendar: late February, with the Combine ramping up, free agency on the horizon, and teams already laying the groundwork for spring workouts.
Quick background: Shough’s winding path to the Saints
Shough’s journey to New Orleans was anything but straightforward.
The 6-foot-5 quarterback played college football at Oregon, Texas Tech, and Louisville before turning pro. That long route helped shape him into a more experienced prospect than the typical rookie QB, and it’s part of what made him an intriguing option when the Saints used the No. 40 overall pick (second round) on him in the 2025 NFL Draft.
New Orleans quickly got business handled, signing Shough to a standard four-year rookie deal last summer and putting him in position to compete right away.
How Shough’s rookie season set the stage
From an on-field perspective, Shough’s first NFL season gave the Saints enough to keep the quarterback conversation alive into Year 2.
In the 2025 regular season, Shough appeared in 11 games, completing 67.6% of his passes for 2,384 yards, with 10 touchdowns and six interceptions. For a rookie stepping into a complex offense and an NFL-speed environment, those numbers offered a baseline—plus a clear set of areas to build on: quicker answers versus pressure, more consistent red-zone efficiency, and (like every young QB) cutting down the “one or two throws a game” that swing outcomes.
Just as importantly, Shough’s rookie year came during a transitional period for the franchise, with New Orleans reshaping its quarterback room and the offense around a new direction.
What expectations look like heading into 2026
Shough now enters an offseason where the stakes are obvious: win the job, keep the job, and elevate the offense.
The Saints’ QB depth chart has been in flux, and Shough is competing in a room that has featured multiple young arms. That puts a premium on spring reps and summer consistency—especially in a system where timing, decision-making, and protection calls can decide who coaches trust when Week 1 arrives.
Here are three practical, “why it matters” checkpoints to watch as Shough moves from rookie to second-year quarterback:
Spring install and OTAs: This is where quarterbacks separate with command—getting the ball out on time, running the huddle cleanly, and showing mastery of situational football (two-minute, third down, red zone).
Training camp competition: The QB battle is often decided by stacking days. Fewer negative plays (sacks, forced throws, pre-snap mistakes) usually wins.
Roster-building around him: How the Saints invest at receiver, offensive line, and running back this offseason will tell you a lot about what they expect from Shough in 2026.
The bigger picture
For Shough, welcoming Grayson is a milestone that lands at a pivotal time, right before the “football business” portion of the offseason accelerates.
The Saints have plenty to sort out between now and September, but for one day, the headline is simple: Shough is a new dad, and the Shough family just got bigger—before an even bigger Year 2 spotlight arrives in New Orleans.
Erik Anderson is an award-winning sports journalist covering the NBA, MLB and NFL for Heavy.com. He also focuses on the trading card market. His work has appeared in nationally-recognized outlets including The New York Times, Associated Press , USA Today, and ESPN. More about Erik Anderson
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