JACKSON: Why Tyler Shough belongs in the NFL’s national spotlight

By Ross Jackson

After another tremendous performance and a fourth consecutive win, it’s clear that the New Orleans Saints have their future at quarterback in rookie Tyler Shough. But there’s still more room to climb for the first-year quarterback.

Not only is Shough answering all of the questions that have been asked about his potential as the Saints future franchise, he’s worked his way into national conversation over the last few weeks.

After setting his career high in passing yards against the New York Jets in Week 16, Shough returned to the field in Week 17 with an even better game.

Against the Tennessee Titans, Shough completed 22 of 27 passing attempts for a new career-high of 333 yards and another pair of touchdowns. All in a game where his team toppled the one led by the No. 1 overall pick in rookie quarterback Cam Ward.

New Orleans found their guy in Tyler Shough. Heck of a day. 🎯

(via @NextGenStats) pic.twitter.com/ipO01ZUbk3

— Ryan Fowler (@_RyanFowler_) December 28, 2025

Last week’s performance led to Shough skyrocketing from No. 5 in Offensive Rookie of the Year voting to No. 2. This week’s showing should place him firmly as the favorite for the award.

In the Saints’ 34-26 win over the Titans, Shough was brilliant. His 142.7 passer rating was the best in a game all season by a rookie quarterback. He also owns the second-best mark (128.9) which he achieved Week 10 against the Carolina Panthers.

He has also now led two comeback victories in the past four weeks. Shough has been surgically accurate and efficient in each of his starts, completing 69.6 percent of his passes as the lead quarterback. 

Not only do the Saints have their future quarterback in their present, the team also has a true Offensive Rookie of the Year contender for the second time since 2017. That season, the rookie awards were swept by Saints running back Alvin Kamara and cornerback Marshon Lattimore.

His teammates see it as well. Multiple of them have taken to social media since the game’s conclusion to express their support for him to win the award, including fellow rookie and running back Devin Neal. 

Wide receiver Chris Olave, who has now played some of his best pro football with Shough at the helm, also gave his quarterback a shoutout for the award in his postgame press conference. 

“Trying to get Tyler that Rookie of the Year award,”

– Chris Olave pic.twitter.com/Iuv7JNO7ot

— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) December 28, 2025

“I think that’s obviously a great achievement,” Shough said on the idea of winning the award after the Jets win. “I think that can be attained by finishing the season the right way, with getting the victory next week and then the week after that. So that’s all I’m focused on right now.”

Shough is a part of a locker room that has abandoned the idea of individual acknowledgements in favor of winning as a football team, so it makes sense for him to take the focus off of himself and the potential for the award. However, he is also aware of the community of fans supporting him and his team. So while winning the award won’t be at the top of his mind with one game left to go against the bitter rival Atlanta Falcons next week, he is acutely aware of the importance of taking home the recognition for those cheering for his success.

Many sportsbooks have removed the odds for end of year awards as games are being played, a common practice. But no one would be surprised if Shough leaps Panthers wide receiver Tetairoa McMillain (who had one catch for five yards in Week 17) as the new front-runner for the award. 

After that, the rest is up to finishing the season strong. Doing so would take the Saints from a five-win last place team in 2024 to a seven-win team in 2025 that’s ready to compete for its division behind Shough next year. That kind of transformation alone is award-worthy.