For much of the 2025 NFL season, Tyler Shough flew under the national radar. Playing for a New Orleans Saints team that spent most of the year fighting uphill battles, the rookie quarterback rarely dominated headline cycles or highlight shows. Yet as the season quietly unfolded, Shough kept producing. Efficiently. Consistently. Confidently. And now, as the NFL prepares for its annual honors during Super Bowl Week, the league has officially acknowledged what Saints fans and film watchers have known for months: Tyler Shough belongs in the conversation.
Shough has been named a finalist for NFL Rookie of the Year, an achievement that places him among the most impactful first-year players in the league. Fans can cast their votes through nfl.com/rookies until Friday, Jan. 30, with the winner to be announced during Super Bowl Week. While the award itself is significant, the deeper story lies in how Shough got here — and what it might mean for the future of football in New Orleans.
The finalist field is impressive. Shough is joined by New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart, New England Patriots running back TreVeyon Henderson, Las Vegas Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty, Carolina Panthers wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan, and Cleveland Browns linebacker Carson Schwesinger. Each of them delivered standout rookie seasons. But when viewed through the lens of difficulty, responsibility, and efficiency, Shough’s case becomes particularly compelling.
The Saints didn’t ease Shough into the NFL. They needed him.
Thrown into a challenging situation with an offense still searching for identity and protection up front, Shough was asked to manage games, move the chains, and stabilize a team that lacked consistency around him. What followed was one of the most quietly impressive rookie quarterback seasons in recent franchise history.
Statistically, Shough’s rookie year stands out immediately. He finished the season with the highest completion percentage among all rookie quarterbacks, completing 67.6 percent of his passes (221 of 337). In an era where rookies are often encouraged to push the ball downfield aggressively — sometimes recklessly — Shough showed a mature understanding of efficiency and ball placement.
He also ranked second among rookies in both passing yards (2,384) and passer rating (91.3), numbers that become even more impressive when placed in context. Shough wasn’t operating behind an elite offensive line or throwing to a loaded receiving corps. According to Pro Football Focus, the Saints posted a 65.0 pass-blocking grade, ranking just 19th in the NFL. Their run-blocking grade was even worse, finishing 31st at 68.8.
Despite those limitations, Shough delivered.
In doing so, he rewrote the Saints’ rookie record book. Shough set new franchise marks for most passing yards by a rookie, most passing touchdowns by a rookie with 10, and highest completion percentage by a rookie quarterback. These weren’t marginal improvements on existing records. They were clear benchmarks that separated his season from previous rookie campaigns in New Orleans.
Perhaps the most eye-catching moment came in Week 17. Shough delivered a historic performance, becoming just the second rookie quarterback ever to record a completion percentage of 80 percent or higher (81.5), throw for at least 300 yards, and post a passer rating of 140 or higher in a single game. The only other rookie to accomplish that feat is Bo Nix, who did so twice with Denver. That type of efficiency is rare for any quarterback, let alone one in his first NFL season.
Yet numbers alone don’t fully explain why Shough has earned national recognition.
What stood out consistently was his poise.
Week after week, Shough looked comfortable in the pocket. He processed defenses quickly, avoided unnecessary risks, and displayed arm talent that allowed him to make throws to every level of the field. When protection broke down, he didn’t panic. He extended plays with his legs, picking up 186 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns over the course of the season.
Those rushing numbers weren’t gimmicks. They were drive-saving, momentum-shifting plays that showcased Shough’s athleticism and situational awareness. In key moments, he became the Saints’ most reliable offensive weapon, even as defenses keyed on him.
Thomas Valentine of Pro Football Focus summed it up succinctly when naming Shough the primary reason for optimism in New Orleans entering 2026.
“The rookie quarterback looked confident in the pocket, flashed his arm talent and even added 186 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns, doing all of that in less-than-stellar surroundings,” Valentine wrote. “Shough clearly helped the team win games.”
That last part matters.
The Saints finished the season 6-11, a record that doesn’t jump off the page. But context again is critical. From Week 9 onward, New Orleans ranked 17th in EPA per pass play — a notable improvement driven largely by Shough’s steady play. The Saints won four of their final five games, closing the season with momentum that fundamentally altered the organization’s outlook.
Those wins didn’t just boost morale. They changed the franchise’s draft positioning, pushing New Orleans out of quarterback range in the first round. That alone is telling. Teams don’t pass on quarterback prospects unless they believe they already have one worth building around.
Shough’s impact extended beyond wins and losses. He changed the tone of the offense. Drives felt more controlled. Situational football improved. Turnovers declined. And perhaps most importantly, teammates played with visible confidence when he was under center.
That confidence isn’t accidental. Rookie quarterbacks often struggle with leadership at the NFL level, but Shough earned trust quickly. He commanded the huddle, communicated clearly, and demonstrated accountability after mistakes. Those traits don’t show up in box scores, but they shape locker rooms and long-term success.
Being named a finalist for Rookie of the Year validates all of that.
It also places Shough in elite company. The award often favors explosive stat lines or highlight-reel plays, particularly from skill position players. Running backs like Jeanty and Henderson piled up production. McMillan emerged as a dynamic receiving threat. Schwesinger made immediate defensive impact. And Dart flashed upside at quarterback in New York.
Yet Shough’s candidacy rests on something deeper: sustainability.
His season wasn’t built on one hot stretch or a handful of big plays. It was built on week-to-week reliability. Coaches could trust him. Play callers could expand the playbook. And the Saints could realistically evaluate him as more than just a temporary solution.
That evaluation now defines New Orleans’ future.
The Saints enter the 2026 offseason with clarity they lacked a year ago. Instead of scrambling for answers at quarterback, they can focus on building around Shough. Improving the offensive line. Adding skill position help. Designing an offense that maximizes his strengths.
Pro Football Focus believes Shough has already earned the right to be viewed as the long-term starter — or at the very least, the unquestioned leader heading into next season.
“He’s done more than enough to show he could be the Saints’ long-term starter,” Valentine wrote. “Or at the very least, he’s earned the opportunity to show that in 2026.”
That opportunity now feels inevitable.
Whether or not Shough ultimately wins Rookie of the Year, his season has already shifted the trajectory of the Saints franchise. Awards are symbolic. Stability at quarterback is transformational.
For years, New Orleans searched for answers under center. In 2025, they may have quietly found one.
Tyler Shough didn’t just survive his rookie season. He defined it. And as the league prepares to hand out honors, one thing is already clear: the Saints’ future at quarterback looks far brighter than it did a year ago.
