The were quick to give Tyler Shough, their second-round pick from the 2025 NFL Draft, their vote of confidence as the teams starting quarterback heading into the 2026 season.
Shough, who sat as a backup to start the 2025 season, gets an entire offseason and training camp to prepare for the starting role compared to a full quarterback battle this time last year.
Fox News Digital spoke to Shough during week in February, when he expressed his excitement about having more time to develop and learn head coach Kellen Moores offense. He also mentioned an “incredible mentor” that has helped him since he was drafted by New Orleans.
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Drew Brees, the Saints’ legendary quarterback who was just inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, gave words of advice to Shough, and loved what he saw from him when Moore turned the offensive keys over to him last season.
“I think Shough is in an unbelievable situation,” Brees told Fox News Digital in a recent interview. “He showed a ton of leadership traits this offseason. Gathering the guys together, structuring offseason workouts, getting them ready for camp.”
Shough was 25 years old when he came out of Louisville last year, playing for three different programs across seven years. While some viewed this as a crutch for Shough to break into the NFL, Brees viewed it differently.
“First off, Tyler Shough is a guy mature beyond his years,” Brees explained. “I think he spent seven years in college â three at [Texas] Tech, three at Oregon and one at Louisville. He battled through his own fair share of injuries and adversity. Just having to overcome. So again, I think you learn a lot, develop a lot of gratitude. I think he was at a point in his career where he didnt think the NFL was going to be an option. I think going to Louisville and being with Jeff Brohm, who I know really well â former coach at Purdue and former NFL quarterback. Really helped develop him and get him to the next level of, Man, you can do this. You can play at a very high level.”
The Saints also went with Spencer Rattler as their starting quarterback to begin the 2025 season, but by Week 9, Moore turned the job over to Shough. He finished 5-4 in those starts, including a four-game win streak that had New Orleans feeling great about the future.
Brees believes that time sitting and observing helped Shough.
“I think him coming in last year, sitting for half the season, you observe so much when you do that. When you step in, its like, Youve earned this. Its my time. Here we go,” Brees said. “He just got incrementally better every week. Hes super talented. Hes big, strong, can throw the ball. Very good athlete, so you can do a lot in the run game with him. He has a lot of Josh Allen qualities in that way â running with the size and athleticism.”
And the Saints clearly saw everything they needed to start loading up on offense.
“Man, theyve built some pieces around him. They sign Chris Olave to a long-term deal. They draft Jordyn Tyson. Unfortunately, I know hes got the hamstring now for two months. Nonetheless, hes got these playmakers around him,” Brees said. “They sign [Travis] Etienne [Jr.], you got Alvin Kamara, you got Juwan Johnson. You got a really good O-line. You drafted r
