Tyler Shough could be the franchise quarterback the New Orleans Saints have been looking for since Drew Brees’ retirement. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
Getty Images
It may be only five starts into his NFL career, but rookie quarterback Tyler Shough is definitely showing that “it factor” as the New Orleans Saints’ potential franchise quarterback.
The 26-year-old led the Saints to an upset win over an annual playoff contender in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 14, his second big road win against a playoff-caliber opponent in the past four games. It was just a few weeks prior that Shough led the Saints to a 17-7 win over the Carolina Panthers, a game in which he threw two touchdown passes while repeatedly converting on third-down conversions and making big plays.
Fast forward to a rain-soaked field and less-than-ideal passing conditions at Raymond James Stadium and Shough did the exact same thing, except this time moreso with his legs. The 6-foot-5 Shough is known more for his passing abilities, but he showed he has plenty of mobility, rushing for 55 yards to go along with two touchdowns.
The 2025 second-round draft pick touchdown runs of 34 and 13 yards, showing that he can excel and win with both his arms and his legs.
“My mindset is to get it done any way I can,” said Shough after the game. “That’s why you play football, I’ll continue to look back at how we can continue to grow as a team and as an offense. I think we all played well together, it was a lot of fun.”
Outside of winning the ball game, the most important stat where Shough and the Saints excelled is on third-down conversions. New Orleans converted on 5-of-11 on the money down, including 6-for-7 in the second half. By comparison, the Bucs converted on just 3-of-13 on third downs on 2-for-7 on fourth downs.
“100%, every single practice I’ve said it every single week, I feel my confidence growing more and more,” said Shough following the game. “Just the ability to put points on the board any way we can. There’s a lot of plays we can look at and I can look at and continue to grow with, but I’m just proud of everybody, especially against a defense like that in those conditions to turn out a win.”
As evidenced by his 34-yard touchdown run early in the game and his 13-yard touchdown run to give the Saints a fourth quarter lead they wouldn’t relinquish, it’s clear Shough is showing the ability to convert on big plays and show that “it factor.”
That’s something that 36-year-old linebacker and 14-year veteran Demario Davis noted following the game about his young quarterback. That’s a major compliment considering Davis has played with Drew Brees and has been a member of the Saints since 2018.
“He has shown to have that it factor,” said Davis of Shough. “What is the it factor? I don’t know what is that thing that separates some of our top quarterbacks in the league from the rest of the guys. It’s that savviness to make heads-up plays. One of my favorite plays from his last week didn’t go that far, but he was about to get sacked and he dumped the ball off to the tight end.
“To have that level of ice in your veins, to make plays when plays could be dead in essence,” Davis continues. “To save a play, to extend a play, to make big runs in big moments, big third downs, to be able to turn into that pocket passer that can read the defense and get the ball out. To have that diversity is what I believe that any franchise needs to be successful in today’s game. I just don’t think if you don’t have that guy at that position, you’re not going to succeed. It’s been great to see him make those plays and we need him to continue to make those plays.”
The Saints obviously won’t be going to the playoffs this season as they’re 3-10 entering Week 15. It’ll mark the fifth consecutive season that New Orleans will miss the playoffs since Brees retired.
With that being said, the Saints have pulled off two victories against 7-6 NFC South teams on the road over the past month with a rookie quarterback at the helm. That’s not including Shough almost leading a fourth quarter comeback over the Miami Dolphins – also on the road – in Week 13, a game in which he threw for two touchdowns with a 68.4% completion rate.
That rookie is giving hope to a franchise that has been starving for a true franchise quarterback since Brees decided to hang them up. New Orleans native and former Saints safety Tyrann Mathieu — who previously complimented Shough following his win over the Panthers — took notice after the victory over the Bucs, giving his stamp of approval for the first-year quarterback.
“Get him some more weapons and a good defense!” Mathieu posted on X. “[The] Saints aren’t far off from bouncing back and competing in this division!”
If Week 14 was any sign of things to come, Mathieu could be right — the Saints could be back as a possible NFC South contender as soon as next season with Shough at the helm.
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/djsiddiqi/2025/12/07/new-orleans-saints-tyler-shough-could-be-the-franchise-qb-team-has-been-seeking-since-drew-brees-retirement/
