Louisville passer who seized the Saints starting job midway through 2025 and enters 2026 as the entrenched QB1.
Tyler Shough is the New Orleans Saints' starting quarterback, drafted 40th overall in 2025 out of Louisville. After opening his rookie year as Spencer Rattler's backup, he took over in Week 9 and went 5-4 the rest of the way. The Saints committed to him as their 2026 starter.
Path to the league
Shough took an unconventional, well-traveled college route before finishing at Louisville. The Saints drafted him in the second round (40th overall) in 2025, their highest-drafted quarterback since Archie Manning went No. 2 overall in 1971. He signed a four-year rookie contract in July 2025.
2025 season
Rattler opened the year as the starter, but Shough took over in Week 9 against the Rams after the team fell to 1-7. From that point he completed 221 of 327 passes (67.6 percent) for 2,384 yards and 10 touchdowns with a 91.3 rating, and added 186 rushing yards and three scores. He led all rookie QBs in completion percentage, passer rating, and passing yards per game while going 5-4 as a starter.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Tyler Shough
- ESPN: Tyler Shough player page
Statistics
2025 season and career2025 Season · Passing
11 games played▶Passing · career
| Year | Team | GP | CMP | ATT | YDS | TD | INT | RTG | QBR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | saints | 3 | 91 | 132 | 917 | 8 | 3 | 99.2 | 61.8 |
| 2025 | saints | 11 | 221 | 327 | 2,384 | 10 | 6 | 91.3 | 48.8 |
▶Rushing · career
| Year | Team | GP | CAR | YDS | AVG | TD | LNG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | saints | 3 | 14 | 67 | 4.8 | 1 | 36 |
| 2025 | saints | 11 | 45 | 186 | 4.1 | 3 | 34 |
Player Profile
Background
- Position
- Quarterback
- Group
- offense
- College
- Louisville
- Hometown
- Chandler, AZ, USA
- Age
- 27
- Status
- active
Latest news about Tyler Shough
All news →Saints on the Wrong End of a Second Disputed Fumble Ruling in Three Weeks
Tyler Shough thought his arm was going forward when Malcolm Koonce hit him in the fourth quarter against Las Vegas. The league said he had lost control first, a different standard than the one applied when Jared Goff's fumble was overturned in Week 1.
Raiders Beat Saints 35-27 in Week 3
Las Vegas Raiders 35, New Orleans Saints 27 at Caesars Superdome. Kirk Cousins went 22 of 33 for 248 yards with 3 touchdowns.
Saints Beat Ravens 24-17 in Week 2
New Orleans Saints 24, Baltimore Ravens 17 at M&T Bank Stadium. Tyler Shough went 27 of 34 for 252 yards with 1 touchdown.
Saints Question Overturned Fumble-Return Touchdown in 31-30 Overtime Loss at Detroit
Jonas Sanker's second-quarter scoop-and-score was wiped out on review when officials ruled Jared Goff's arm was already moving forward when Chase Young hit him, making it an incomplete pass rather than a fumble.
Lions Edge Saints 31-30 in Week 1
Detroit Lions 31, New Orleans Saints 30 at Ford Field. Jared Goff went 26 of 39 for 206 yards with 2 touchdowns.
Zach Wilson Stands Out for Saints Despite Loss to Jaguars
The former No. 2 overall pick, now on his fourth team, threw for 145 yards and a touchdown as New Orleans blew a 20-6 halftime lead in a 24-20 defeat.
Team
