After stumbling to a 1-7 start, the New Orleans Saints and head coach Kellen Moore are turning to rookie Tyler Shough under center, and not everyone’s thrilled about it.
Spencer Rattler, who started the first eight games of the 2025 season, has been benched in favor of Shough, signaling what many fans believe is the beginning of a full-blown rebuild in The Big Easy.
Fans Sound Off After Tyler Shough Is Named the Saints’ Starting Quarterback
In the midst of a far-from-exciting season for Saints fans, it is safe to say that the fan base isn’t exactly jumping for joy following the news of a quarterback change.
Fans took to social media to voice their displeasure with the decision.
“Future is now” isn’t the best way to describe the 32 year old rookie becoming the starter
— lukedebisschop002 (@ldebisschop002) October 28, 2025
“‘Future is now’ isn’t the best way to describe the 32-year-old rookie becoming the starter,” one fan said, voicing their displeasure with Shough, who turned 26 in September, becoming the starter.
If Tyler Shough is “The Future” for the Saints, they are in bigggggg trouble long term…
— Billionaire (@PackersGOATS) October 28, 2025
“If Tyler Shough is ‘The Future’ for the Saints, they are in bigggggg trouble long term…” another fan said, stating their disaproval with the Saints’ outlook with Shough at quarterback for the presumed long term.
“The Future” this guy stinks
— Couch Refs (@CouchRefs) October 28, 2025
“‘The Future’, this guy stinks, a fan said, bleakly stating their opinion of Shough as an NFL quarterback.
Amid an already rough season, optimism seems complicated to come by in New Orleans as coach Moore is set to entrust his offense with his second-round pick from this past NFL draft.
Shough Set to Make First NFL Start
Tyler Shough got his first taste of NFL action during the Saints’ Week 8 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but now he’s set to make his first career start.
Shough entered late in the third quarter and went 17-of-28 for 128 yards and one interception. While the stat line didn’t turn heads, it offered a glimpse of what the 26-year-old rookie might bring to the table.
Despite being a rookie, Shough is about as seasoned as rookies come. He spent seven years in college, beginning at Oregon, where he redshirted his first year and appeared in 12 games over the next two, before transferring to Texas Tech and eventually finishing at Louisville in 2024.
Now, with the Saints sitting at 1-7, Shough steps into a difficult situation, but one that could define his career. PFSN rates the Saints’ offense as D with an OFFi of 66.1. The only offensive units worse? The Raiders, Titans, and Browns. He will get his first shot at improving these numbers in Week 9 when the Los Angeles Rams come to town.
Shough might not be the quarterback that fans were hoping to see, but he’s been given the chance of a lifetime to prove he belongs and maybe give Moore’s Saints a spark they desperately need.
