Tyler Shough is a seasoned quarterback with a unique collegiate journey. Hampered by injuries in his first few seasons, he put together a full year as a starter at Louisville and a top-notch performance at the Senior Bowl that made his age and extensive college experience a positive instead of a liability.
How Old Is Saints QB Tyler Shough?
Shough is a 25-year-old quarterback who will turn 26 during the 2025 NFL regular season. His birthday is on September 28, and he was born in 1999, His college career spanned seven seasons thanks to redshirt years, injuries, and the NCAA’s COVID-19 eligibility extension.
Shough attended Hamilton High School in Chandler, Arizona, where he threw for over 3,000 yards and 30 TDs, earning a place on the 6A Premier League First-Team list. He was a four-star recruit, ranked as the No. 1 prospect in Arizona and 96th nationally. Shough committed to Oregon and arrived as an early enrollee.
After acting as a backup to Justin Herbert from 2018–2020, Shough transferred to Texas Tech (2021–2023), where he was named the starter following an impressive camp. His season ended after four games with a broken collarbone, making him eligible for an injury hardship waiver, which granted him an additional year of eligibility.
Shough transferred to Louisville for his seventh year of college football. He started all 12 games, leading the Cardinals to an 8-4 record before opting out of the Sun Bowl against Washington.
What’s the Scoop on Tyler Shough?
Shough was the New Orleans Saints’ second-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft after the aforementioned strong performance in the Senior Bowl. Shough finished the regular season with over 3,100 passing yards, 23 touchdowns, and just six interceptions.
He’s got a big, strong arm and can throw the deep ball with little effort. Gifted with nice arm talent, he layers his throws, can put it on a line, drop it in the bucket, and shows enough touch.
He can throw from multiple arm angles, and the 6’5″, 225-pounder can hurt defenses with his legs. He’s got the experience and poise to step in immediately, though the Saints are in wait-and-see mode with Derek Carr’s throwing shoulder, which may have been a factor in drafting Shough.
Though he’s a rookie, he comes into the NFL after already having had his fair share of adversity. He’s dealt with injuries, adjusted to multiple organizations and systems, and has a wealth of maturity. He will be 29 or 30 years old when his rookie contract expires, but the Saints saw enough in him to draft him much higher than would have been expected before the 2024 season.
