Tyler Shough is getting a crash course on what it’s like being in the NFL.
Selected in the second round with the 40th pick of the 2025 NFL Draft by the New Orleans Saints, Shough was walking into a situation where he could learn behind Derek Carr. Instead of learning from Carr, he might be replacing him after the veteran announced his retirement on May 10 due to a shoulder injury.
During an appearance on the ‘St. Brown Podcast’ with Amon-Ra and Equanimeous St. Brown, Shough was asked about that shocking news. The rookie quarterback noted that the Saints’ rookie head coach, Kellen Moore, gave him advance notice of the news.
‘Kellen told me before he announced it in practice, which was good, just cause I think I had media later that day, so, I didn’t want to go in blind,’ Shough said. ‘Like you said, the word opportunity just sticks in my head. I think, regardless, I think it would have been great just because of who he is and how high of a level he’s played at to come in and learn from, and I’m going to come in and compete, regardless, and try to get better.’
The experience has been far from conventional for Shough in his first offseason, but, then again, this is far from your average rookie quarterback. Shough is 25 years old and will turn 26 in September, so he’s been around the block a few more times than most signal callers entering the league.
Shough sees that as an advantage. He’s dealt with injuries and been well-traveled after beginning his college career as Justin Herbert’s backup at Oregon. After making stops at Texas Tech and Louisville, Shough is ready for the NFL challenges that lie ahead.
‘I think for me and what I’ve been through – I’ve been carted off the field, I’ve been booed, I’ve been an MVP, I’ve been a starter, I’ve been a backup to Herbert – I’m like, throw some (expletive) at me, you’re not going to faze me if we start off 0-2 or I (expletive) suck,’ Shough said. ‘It’s going to be fine. That’s what I was excited about, that opportunity, or any opportunity, and I think, going into it, I’ve got to continue to get to know the guys – like I said earlier I’m still a rookie. I may be older, but I have to earn the respect of everybody and do my job.’
Age continues to be a topic of discussion for Shough, but he views it as a positive, saying that experience has allowed him to grow and prepare him for starting right away in the pros. As he sees it, a short college career might’ve translated to him being out of the league at this point.
There’s a unique perspective that Shough has as an older rookie that allows him to savor the moment and be grateful for the opportunity in front of him.
With many ups and downs, it all led to a potential starting quarterback job with the Saints – meaning all the challenges were worth it.
‘I think it’s just, you know you look back, what are you willing to sacrifice to get to that position?’ Shough said. ‘If you would have told me as a 20-year-old, you’re going to get drafted, but you are going to have to wait four or five years and you’re going to break your bones three times and think about not playing football again and you’re going to be depressed and you’re gonna have all these emotions, but if you just stay at it then I would have done it and I did. At that time, you’re wondering why is this happening and what’s going on, there’s a lot of unknowns. That’s literally the NFL, that’s the game of football.’
Shough will still have to win the starting job in training camp, competing against Spencer Rattler and Jake Haener. He might be the leader in the clubhouse, but even if he isn’t, it would be crazy to count him out.