Almost unbelievable.
So much can change in a year.
Let's rewind back to 2025. The New Orleans Saints were coming off a horrible season consisting of depressing QB play, a fired head coach, a defense that seemed lost at times, and zero hope for the future. So, not great. But after hiring HC Kellen Moore, things felt a bit better. The only issue was the most important position in arguably all of sports, the QB.
Derek Carr was coming off another disappointing season and an injury that knocked him out of the year. Spencer Rattler showed some promise, but not enough to anoint him as the future, and Jake Haener did not show enough as a starter. No one really knew what the Saints and Moore were going to do with the QB position, especially when it was time for the team to go into a rebuild. Moore needed his guy, but when Moore took the job, it seemed like it would have to be Carr because of his contract.
But somehow, in a twist, there were rumors that Carr's future with the team may be up in the air. This was going into the NFL Draft, and the Saints were doing major homework on the QB prospects, including Tyler Shough. The Saints and Shough were linked throughout the process, and on day 2 of the draft, they selected the Louisville QB. At this time, Carr was still on the roster, and Shough would probably be the second option and sit for a year. Well, that was wrong.
Just over a year ago, Carr announced his retirement from the NFL. This was the final piece of news that forced the Saints into a new era of football in New Orleans, and although it created mountains of uncertainty, it was what was needed. The QB room was Shough, Rattler, and Haener, and in a heated training camp battle, Rattler won the starting job. It was clear Shough needed time to learn, but his time to take over was right around the corner. Rattler did not live up to the hype, and against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Shough was subbed in at QB.
After Shough became the starter, he never looked back, leading the team to a 5-4 finish. This was arguably the best overall QB play the Saints have had since Drew Brees, and it has created new hope with this team.
Now, going into the 2026 season, Shough is the starting QB, and the Saints have done everything in their power to make him succeed moving forward.