JACKSON: How Spencer Rattler won the Saints’ Starting QB Job

Stephen Lew-Imagn Images

By Ross Jackson

After months of battling back and forth with his competitors, second-year quarterback Spencer Rattler has been named as the New Orleans Saints’ starter going into the 2025 NFL season.

A job once destined for former starter Derek Carr, before his surprise retirement, opened up after the Saints drafted rookie quarterback Tyler Shough in the second round.

Rattler and Shough were considered the frontrunners to land the job, while third-year passer Jake Haener continued to also compete.

With Shough having been the highest-drafted quarterback by the Saints since Archie Manning in 1971, many believed that the job would be his. Despite the competition, the organizational investment in another passer and a fully-guaranteed second-round contract that we projected would not limit his chances in the battle, Rattler came out on top.

Head coach Kellen Moore highlighted three reasons why that was the case in his Tuesday media availability: experience, confidence and consistency.

Experience

“Experience is very, very valuable,” Moore said Tuesday. “(Rattler) went through some challenging things last year. To be able to come out of that a better player, but then respond really, really well all offseason is a tremendous testament to his work ethic.”

With six starts and seven regular season appearances, Rattler was far and away the most experienced pro in the quarterback battle. All six of his starts resulted in losses on the record, but there was a lot of context to that.

Beyond the starting or playing exposure was also the experience of working with a wide variety of players and talent levels throughout his rookie season. The Saints were marred with injury in 2024, leaving Rattler the chance to work with starters, backups and even reserves. While the results were less than desirable, managing that adversity has value when you make it out unscathed (or as unscathed as an NFL player can).

The second-year passer may have had fewer years of college football under his belt than Shough, but his lead in both collegiate passing attempts and overall offensive snaps. This could have been another factor that helped Rattler gain an early lead in the quarterback competition.

Rattler – Tipton – TD! ⚜️ pic.twitter.com/pW1Amq3t7z

— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) July 30, 2025

He was more decisive, a quicker processor and a more aggressive onel. Not that Shough underwhelmed in these areas, but Rattler’s comfort was clear throughout the beginning of training camp. Shough started to close the distance between he and Rattler as camp went along, live playcalling was introduced to practices and preseason games got under way. But the former South Carolina passer still found ways to separate otherwise.

Confidence

“With (Rattler), I think the way he plays each and every play independent of whatever happened the previous play, I think is a great strength of his,” Moore said when asked about the quarterback’s confidence. “He has a great level of confidence in himself, but he has an ability to handle a tough moment, a bad moment, a mistake, and just play the next play.”

This is an element of the game that all three competitors deserve credit. Perhaps that is an indication of the job Moore did instilling confidence in each player. But for Rattler, that confidence resulted in production.

His improved decision-making this year has been a clear display of his growing self-belief.

Rattler to Shaheed 🙌#Saints pic.twitter.com/TgrN09naLj

— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) August 5, 2025

Last year, he held on to the ball at times too long which resulted in sacks and pressure. So far, in 2025, Rattler has done a much better job being decisive and on time with his throws in Moore’s new offensive system. The aid of a reliable system can sometimes help build confidence in a quarterback, coupled with the already natural conviction possessed by each signal caller. Rattler came out showing the right qualities throughout this competition.

Consistency

“He’s done an awesome job this offseason,” Moore said of Rattler. “He’s just been consistent. He’s made some really good decisions throughout this whole entire process. And his ability to make plays with his arm and his feet have certainly shown up. I’m really really excited about Spencer. He’s earned this opportunity.”

Honestly, the mention of his ability to use his feet is another factor that likely came up in this process. As for consistency, Rattler never seemed to run out of steam throughout the battle. He completed over 70% of his combine 7-on-7, team drill and preseason game passing attempts this summer.

He also continued to bounce back after negative moments all throughout camp, showing the pinnacle of that ability in the preseason. Rattler’s interception near scoring range vs. Jacksonville was one receiver Mason Tipton admitted was on him. The next drive, Rattler and Tipton helped to lead the team down the field in a hurry-up drive that resulted in a touchdown and two-point conversion that changed the exhibition matchup from a loss to a tie.