Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images
By Ross Jackson
It’s been an exciting 24 hours for New Orleans Saints rookie quarterback Tyler Shough. The passer helped to secure the team’s third win of the year on the back of his two rushing touchdowns and another efficient day at quarterback.
That efficiency has been a calling card of his success thus far.
Shough’s 67.8% completion percentage as a starter leads all rookie passers so far in 2025. On top of that, his 65.2% overall rate leads every rookie passer with at least 10 passing attempts on the season.
The rookie’s best season as a collegiate quarterback in a year with at least 100 passing attempts was a 63.5% completion year with the Oregon Ducks in 2020.
Shough has already shown much improvement from an efficiency standpoint, something head coach Kellen Moore deserves a lot of credit for. Not only has Shough improved in that area, but so too did Spencer Rattler in his starts earlier in the season. This year, Rattler leapt to a 68% completion percentage after completing just 57% of his passing attempts last year.
With the Saints trying to find out if Shough represents the future for the franchise, his accuracy and good decision making are a big step forward. That, tied in with his playmaking ability, has generated warranted excitement.
As the Saints look ahead in their schedule, the Carolina Panthers, New York Jets, Tennessee Titans and Atlanta Falcons all represent winnable matchups and for Shough to continue his hot streak.
