Tyler Shough, the 26-year-old quarterback of the New Orleans Saints, is getting comfortable as the new team leader on and off the field. You can see his confidence increasing with each game he plays. Shough’s talents took center stage recently during a truly memorable performance against the Carolina Panthers. He totaled 282 passing yards, completing 70.4% of his passes as he threw two touchdown passes and had no interceptions. As he continues to build rapport with his teammates, particularly with wide receiver Chris Olave, the Saints are optimistic about their offensive prospects.
Katherine Terrell, a Baton Rouge native and graduate of Louisiana State University (LSU), has covered the NFL since 2013. She returned to ESPN in the summer of 2022. This go-around, it was on the heels of covering the New Orleans Saints after first leaving the network in 2019. During her tenure, she approached her reporting with a keen understanding of the team’s dynamics and local connections.
Shough’s recent performance has captured attention, especially his burgeoning chemistry with Olave, who recorded 104 yards and a touchdown against the Panthers. This relationship has given rise to understandable excitement among Saints fans and analysts.
“I feel more and more comfortable each day, each practice as I kind of build that chemistry with some of the guys,” – Tyler Shough
Shough’s leadership has really started to show as he’s putting himself more out there and being more vocal in his leadership role. His quiet but rock-solid confidence is contagious among his teammates, something they think is key to keeping their spirits high and play-making on the field.
“When you feel like your quarterback is confident, that gives a lot of other people confidence,” – Johnson
Beyond the tactical elements of Shough’s comments, it’s his positive attitude and upbeat demeanor that the Johnson’s are talking about—that mood-shifting, locker-room-influencing leadership. For his part, Shough himself continues to keep his eye on developing and helping the team.
“I want to be here for the long run and my play and how I control each day is going to reflect that,” – Tyler Shough
His desire to succeed is palpable. It’s because, unlike many other coaches at 5–0 or at 0–5, he approaches every game as if it’s the most important one on the schedule.
“So my job is to do everything I can that way and that’s all I care about. So whether we’re 0-17 or 17-0, I’m treating it the same, I’m going to go play football and have fun. I love my teammates and love these guys and whoever’s here, we’re going to get after it,” – Tyler Shough
Even as Shough keeps finding his footing in the position, he’s appreciative of help from both veterans and younger teammates. He admits guys in the trenches like Devaughn Vele and Mason Tipton play a huge role in developing that close-knit group.
“We have really good guys that are already here in [Devaughn] Vele and [Mason] Tipton and all those guys and I think Olave has done an excellent job,” – Tyler Shough
Beyond the tangible on-field improvements, Coach Moore has highlighted Shough’s growth as a leader and what his contagious energy has done to elevate the team culture.
“His leadership builds each week, each time that he’s in front of this group leading the charge, you can sense that,” – Moore
With each practice, Shough becomes more comfortable in his new role. His ability to connect with teammates and lead by example could prove pivotal for the Saints as they navigate their season.
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