Saints rookie Tyler Shough ignited a lost season, transforming a 1-7 team into playoff contenders. His impact redefined rookie value, despite missing OROTY.
The dust has settled on the 2025 NFL season, and while Tetairoa McMillan is certainly a deserving talent, the decision to leave Tyler Shough off the top of the Offensive Rookie of the Year (OROTY) podium feels like a missed opportunity to reward true "value." Is this take a little biased……Maybe.
McMillan had the stats, sure. A 1,000-yard season for a rookie wideout is the gold standard. But if we look at the definition of the word "impact," it’s hard to find a rookie who fundamentally altered the trajectory of a franchise more than Shough did for the New Orleans Saints.
The "Turnaround" Factor
When Shough finally got his shot in Week 8, the Saints weren't just bad; they were drifting toward a top-three draft pick with a dismal 1-7 record. The season was effectively a funeral procession. Then, the 6'5" Louisville product stepped in and essentially resurrected a dead offense.
Shough came to play and in doing so, he transformed the locker room. He led the team to a 5-4 record as a starter, elevating a low seeded Saints to the doorstep of a playoff berth. While McMillan was a reliable target for Bryce Young, Shough was the engine, the navigator, and the spark plug for an entire organization.
Efficiency Over Volume
Critics point to Shough’s total passing touchdowns (10) as a reason for his second-place finish, but that ignores the surgical efficiency with which he played:
- Completion Percentage: His 67.6%mark was the third-highest for a qualifying rookie in NFL history.
- Clutch Factor: He led the entire NFL with a 103.3 passer rating on third down.
- Security: In 11 games (9 starts), he only threw 6 interceptions, showing a veteran-like poise that most rookies—and even many established starters—lack.
A Historic Saints Performance
By the end of the season, Shough hadn't just put up "good for a rookie" numbers; he was breaking franchise records. His 221 completions and 2,384 passing yards set new high-water marks for Saints rookie quarterbacks.
In a league where the quarterback is the most difficult and influential position on the field, Shough’s ability to step into a dysfunctional 1-7 situation and win games immediately should have carried more weight. Voters often fall in love with the "shiny" stats of wide receivers and running backs, but they overlooked the most impressive "win-loss" transformation of the 2025 season.
While the trophy is headed to Carolina, the New Orleans faithful know what they saw. Tyler Shough may not have the OROTY title, but he did something much harder: he gave a city its hope back.
The Flip-side
Although Tyler Shough didn’t win the OROTY award, earlier this month he did win the Pepsi Zero Sugar Award for Rookie Of The Year.
"I am truly humbled and honored to be chosen for this award," said Shough. "Coming in as a rookie, my goal was to do anything I could to contribute to our team's success. Whatever I was asked to do, I just wanted to help the team. This wouldn't be possible without all of my teammates and coaches giving everything they had each and every week to help us win. The award is truly a reflection of all of their hard work. I also want to say thank you to our amazing fans. Your unbelievable passion for the Saints and the city of New Orleans inspires all of us! I can't wait to see where we go from here!"
The offseason now brings new goals to reach for the rookie quarterback. 2026 shall be an impactful year for the Saints and Tyler Shough.