New Orleans Saints QB Tyler Shough Makes Heartfelt Post Before Season

Tyler Shough’s Simple Message Carries Heavy Weight as Saints Quarterback Embraces Leadership Role Ahead of 2026 Season

 

New Orleans Saints QB Tyler Shough kept his message short as he turned his attention toward his second NFL season.

 

Shough posted a series of photos to Instagram on September 1 and wrote simply, “For the Fam.” The post came less than two weeks before the Saints open the 2026 regular season against the Detroit Lions and after Shough established himself as New Orleans’ starting quarterback during the second half of his rookie campaign.

 

The three words carry more weight than they might appear to at first glance. For Shough, they represent the culmination of a journey that saw him go from a second-round pick who didn’t make his first start until Week 9 to a quarterback who enters the 2026 season with the offense firmly in his hands and the expectations of an organization – and a fanbase – resting on his shoulders.

 

A Rookie Season That Changed Everything

 

The Saints selected Shough with the No. 40 overall pick in the second round of the 2025 NFL draft, but he did not make his first start until November. Once he got the job, however, the Saints never went back.

 

Shough started the final nine games and went 5-4, including victories in four of New Orleans’ final five contests. That late-season surge turned what could have been a lost campaign into something considerably more promising for the franchise’s future.

 

The numbers tell the story of a quarterback who not only held his own but thrived in difficult circumstances. Shough appeared in 11 games overall in 2025 and completed 221 of 327 passes, good for a 67.6% completion rate. He finished with 2,384 passing yards, 10 touchdowns, six interceptions and a 91.3 passer rating. He also ran 45 times for 186 yards and three scores.

 

His first NFL victory came against the Carolina Panthers, when he completed 19 of 27 passes for 282 yards and two touchdowns in a 17-7 win. His biggest passing day came late in the season against the Tennessee Titans, when Shough went 22-of-27 for a career-high 333 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions in a 34-26 victory. His 81.5% completion rate and 142.8 passer rating in that game were also season highs among his starts.

 

Against the New York Jets, Shough set rookie-season highs with 32 completions and 49 attempts while throwing for 308 yards in a 29-6 victory. He showed another dimension against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, throwing for only 144 yards but running for a season-high 55 yards and two touchdowns as New Orleans won 24-20.

 

Among rookie quarterbacks in 2025, Shough finished first in passing yards per game, completion percentage, passer rating and wins as a starter, according to the Saints. His 103.3 third-down passer rating also led the entire NFL. Pro Football Focus rated him as comfortably the best rookie quarterback, with his 73.1 PFF passing grade finishing 6.9 points higher than the next-best first-year signal-caller. His 2.0% turnover-worthy play rate tied for fourth among all quarterbacks with at least 100 dropbacks.

 

Those performances helped turn what began as a developmental rookie season into something considerably more important for the Saints.

 

Embracing the Weight of Leadership

 

Shough is no longer trying to earn a chance to play. The Saints are entering 2026 expecting him to build on what he showed after Week 9, and offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier was discussing Shough’s development with reporters as recently as September 1.

 

The 26-year-old quarterback has embraced the responsibility that comes with being the face of the franchise. From organizing workouts with teammates in the off hours to taking on more of a leadership role, Shough understands the weight the job entails.

 

“I’ve been able to learn over time just to be yourself,” Shough said. “To be a good leader, you have to serve others and you have to develop those relationships”.

 

His mindset heading into the season reflects the maturity of a quarterback who has been through adversity. In a candid moment on the St. Brown Podcast, Shough revealed his philosophy on handling the inevitable struggles that come with the position.

 

“I’ve been carted off the field, I’ve been booed, I’ve been an MVP… throw some s— at me, you’re not going to faze me if we start off 0-2 or I f—— suck,” Shough said.

 

That mental toughness was forged through a college career that saw him battle injuries and backup roles before finally breaking through. He sustained a broken collarbone in 2021 and again in 2022, then a broken fibula in 2023. Those injuries raised questions about his durability entering the NFL draft, but Shough has answered those doubts by staying healthy and producing at the professional level.

 

“My mindset was to just kind of go for it,” Shough said. “I’m here for a reason. If I can go out there and not be afraid to make mistakes, knowing it’s going to be far from perfect, but the more I can keep my head looking forward and getting everyone going on the same mission, that’s the goal. That was my mindset all of last year, and it’s continuing into this year. We have high expectations for ourselves; we also have a good sense of urgency. We set a standard last year of how we can play together as a team, and I want to be the driving force of that”.

 

Building a Support System

 

While Shough will be the driving force, the Saints have taken significant steps to ensure he has the support necessary to succeed. The organization added veteran guard David Edwards and running back Travis Etienne Jr. in free agency to bolster the run game and protect their young quarterback. In the 2026 NFL Draft, they selected wide receiver Jordyn Tyson eighth overall to give Shough another weapon in the passing game.

 

Shough has already developed strong chemistry with top wideout Chris Olave, who finished last season with 100 catches, 1,163 yards and nine touchdowns. The combination of Olave, Tyson, and Etienne gives the Saints one of the more dynamic offensive skill position groups in the NFC.

 

The improvements along the offensive line and in the backfield could be particularly important for Shough’s development. He was sacked on 8.7% of his dropbacks last season, with Pro Football Focus charting nine of his 31 sacks as the quarterback’s fault. The Saints hope a more consistent running game will put Shough in fewer obvious passing situations and make it harder for defenses to get after the quarterback.

 

The Path to Playoffs

 

For the Saints to snap a five-year playoff drought, Shough will have to build on his electric rookie campaign – and then some. The franchise’s chances in 2026 start and end with their quarterback.

 

Over the first eight starts with Spencer Rattler in 2025, the Saints averaged a paltry 13.9 points, 289 total yards, and 198.3 passing yards per game. With Shough as starter in nine outings, New Orleans averaged 19.8 points, 343 total yards, and 265 passing yards. Those numbers speak for themselves.

 

Shough’s next step is creating more big plays. His 3.8% big-time throw rate ranked just 27th at the position, leaving room for him to become a more dynamic passer in his second season. He has talked often this offseason about improving his footwork and speeding up his progressions. If that happens, the Saints’ offense has the potential to take off.

 

His first test will not be an easy one. New Orleans opens the regular season on the road against the Lions on September 13 at Ford Field. It will be the Saints’ first road opener since 2022.

 

A year ago, Shough did not receive his first start until November. This time, the season begins with the Saints already his team to lead.

 

“For the Fam” was a short post, but it captured everything Shough has worked for – and everything he now carries with him into Year 2.