The New Orleans Saints are entering the 2026 season with high hopes. After handing over the keys of the offense to rookie Tyler Shough last year, they saw some strong performances from the youngster.
As a result, expectations are high for what the team could achieve in its second year alongside head coach Kellen Moore. And it looks like he is embracing the challenge of being QB1, as he is already drawing comparisons to franchise legend Drew Brees for his leadership.
Tyler Shough Might Be the Answer for the Saints
Last season, Shough ranked at number 21 on PFN’s QB Impact Metric with an impact score of 74.6, the highest mark among all rookies. With totals of 2,384 passing yards and 10 touchdowns, it was easy to see why the franchise has high expectations for him. He also showed some sneaky athleticism with 186 yards and three touchdowns on the ground on just 45 carries.
But this year could see him take another step forward, especially with the addition of Jordyn Tyson to an already stacked receiving corps. But before preseason action gets underway, Shough is already making a lasting impression.
The official X account for the Saints shared a clip of the Louisville product getting his squad ready for their first taste of action in the preseason against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
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Shough was seen saying, “Hey, all I could think about last night was one word: Opportunity.”
In an impassioned speech, he continued, “This is the first time as a team that we [expletive] show what we can do. It’s the first time, if you’re a rookie, this [expletive] year that you can show what you can do. I don’t give a [expletive] what the score is. Week 1, Week 17, preseason, show what we’re about. Show what we’re about. Play together from the first snap, jump on them, let’s go!”
It instantly went viral on social media, with his maturity and intensity commendable at such a young age. For Chase Daniel, who spent five seasons of his career with the Saints, it gave him instant flashbacks to a recently minted Hall of Famer.
“If this doesn’t sound like a mini Drew Brees, I don’t know what does!!! Fire me up, Shough,” he wrote on X, referencing the former Super Bowl champion.
It would be an unbelievable success if Shough could follow in the footsteps of one of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history.
It remains to be seen how the rest of his career unfolds. But expectations that were already high in New Orleans are starting to reach a fever pitch as Shough ticks off virtually every box.
This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network.