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Kellen Moore has issued a polite correction anytime someone brings up the New Orleans Saints’ “two-man” quarterback competition.The coach will note the team’s battle includes three quarterbacks — not just Spencer Rattler and Tyler Shough. Moore doesn’t want people to forget about Jake Haener.
Make the news more five hundred words
METAIRIE, LA – In the swirling vortex of NFL training camp narratives, the New Orleans Saints’ quarterback competition has become a focal point, drawing considerable media and fan attention. However, head coach Kellen Moore has been diligent in offering a polite, yet firm, correction to anyone who frames it as a simple “two-man” race. For Moore, the battle for the starting signal-caller position isn’t just between the flashy rookie Tyler Shough and the seasoned, albeit young, Spencer Rattler. It emphatically includes Jake Haener, and Moore is ensuring no one forgets the third man in the ring.
This insistence on a three-man competition is more than just coach-speak; it reflects a genuine commitment to an open and fair evaluation. Moore, in his first year as the Saints’ head coach, has made it clear that all three quarterbacks – Shough, Rattler, and Haener – will be given equal opportunities to prove themselves. This approach was evident in the early days of training camp, where first-team repetitions have been deliberately shuffled, with Haener notably taking more first-team reps during Friday’s team period than either Shough or Rattler.
Jake Haener, a fourth-round pick in 2023, has largely been an afterthought in pre-camp discussions. This dismissal stems from a few factors: the significant draft capital invested in Tyler Shough, a second-round selection in the 2025 NFL Draft, which often signals an organization’s long-term plans; and Haener’s less-than-stellar single start last season. In Week 15 against the Washington Commanders, Haener completed just four of ten passes for 49 yards and an interception before being benched at halftime in favor of Rattler. That performance left many with the impression that he was overmatched at the NFL level.
However, Haener himself is embracing the challenge and defying expectations. “If I’ve learned one thing about this league, this league does not care about your feelings,” Haener stated recently. “It doesn’t care about who you are, what you do. And it’s all about what you’ve done for me lately. And I believe this organization—respect them, they drafted me—if they didn’t truly believe I could be a guy that they think could win the starting job, they wouldn’t include me in it. Simple as that. They wouldn’t make me feel good about myself. I totally see it as a three-man race. I think I’ve earned that right.”
Moore’s strategy is a pragmatic one, particularly for a team undergoing a significant roster rebuild following the retirement of veteran quarterback Derek Carr. With no clear hierarchy established and a room full of relatively young, unproven talent, it makes sense to cast a wide net and allow the competition to play out organically. Moore, himself a former NFL quarterback, along with his offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier and quarterbacks coach Scott Tolzien, possess a deep understanding of the position, making them well-suited to evaluate and mold these young signal-callers.
While Tyler Shough, with his second-round draft pedigree and impressive collegiate career at Louisville, where he was selected as the consensus Comeback Player of the Year in his final season, might still be considered the favorite, Kellen Moore is adamant that nothing is a foregone conclusion. Spencer Rattler, who has six NFL starts under his belt from last season, also brings a level of experience that Haener and Shough lack.
The coming weeks of training camp and the preseason games will be crucial in determining who ultimately earns the coveted starting role for Week 1. All three quarterbacks—Spencer Rattler, Tyler Shough, and Jake Haener—will be given every opportunity to showcase their abilities, leaving no doubt that this is, indeed, a legitimate three-way battle for the New Orleans Saints’ quarterback job. And for Jake Haener, it’s a chance to prove that he belongs, and that Kellen Moore’s faith in a “three-man” race is entirely justified.
