Despite sitting at 6-10 and at the bottom of the NFC South, the Saints have caught fire down the stretch. New Orleans has won four straight games, with the offense far exceeding expectations in recent weeks.
Much of that success can be attributed to rookie quarterback Tyler Shough, who earned strong praise from his star wide receiver following Sunday’s win.
Chris Olave on Tyler Shough
In Week 17, the New Orleans Saints took on the Tennessee Titans. What was expected to be a low-stakes contest turned into one of the best games of the week.
Shough led the Saints to a 34-26 comeback victory, throwing for a career-high 333 yards and two passing touchdowns.
Shough and the Saints’ offense have clearly found their rhythm in recent weeks, and the team’s top wide receiver, Chris Olave, made sure it didn’t go unnoticed.
After Sunday’s win, Olave took to X and tweeted a two-word message that read, “Shough ROTY!!!
Shough ROTY!!!
— Chris Olave (@chrisolave_) December 28, 2025
The idea of Shough winning Offensive Rookie of the Year may have seemed far-fetched just a few weeks ago, but he has quickly built a strong case.
Many fans in Olave’s replies shared that sentiment. One person wrote, “I do agree with this. He been ballin.” Another Saints fan added, “Say it louder bro WHODAT.” A third commenter said, “He is ballin… if he started all year, he probably runs away with it.”
Shough didn’t make his first start for the Saints until Week 9, which is why there hasn’t been much buzz around him for the award. However, in eight starts since taking over, Shough has posted a 5-3 record, averaging 249.6 passing yards while totaling 11 touchdowns against four interceptions.
Shough’s Rookie of the Year competition includes Panthers WR Tetairoa McMillan, Patriots RB TreVeyon Henderson, and Buccaneers WR Emeke Egbuka, though Egbuka has faded somewhat over the past month.
McMillan, in particular, was viewed as the heavy favorite entering Week 17, but after recording just one catch in a loss to the Seahawks, Shough remains very much alive in the race.
Saints beat writer Ross Jackson shared the odds via DraftKings Sportsbook on Sunday evening, noting that the gap between Shough and McMillan is razor-thin.
According to PFSN’s Impact metric, Shough is currently ranked 27th among QBs, whereas McMillan is 35th among WRs.
Now, with just one week remaining in the NFL season, Shough and McMillan’s Week 18 performances will likely decide the award.
Shough and the Saints face the Falcons next Sunday afternoon, while McMillan takes on the Buccaneers on Saturday with the division title on the line.
Regardless, voters will have a difficult decision to make between these two rising stars for the Offensive Rookie of the Year award.
