Drew Brees, a legendary quarterback for the New Orleans Saints, believes that current Saints signal-caller Tyler Shough is in an "unbelievable situation" to succeed in the 2026 NFL season. Brees, recently inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, highlighted Shough's maturity, leadership, and the team's surrounding talent as key factors for his potential success.
Shough, who was the Saints' second-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, will enter the 2026 season as the team's designated starting quarterback. After beginning the 2025 season as a backup, he was given the starting role by Week 9. He finished the season with a 5-4 record as a starter, leading the Saints to a four-game winning streak late in the year. Shough expressed excitement in February about having a full offseason and training camp to learn head coach Kellen Moore's offense, noting an "incredible mentor" who has aided his development since being drafted.
Brees pointed to Shough's seven-year college career, which included stops at Texas Tech, Oregon, and Louisville, as a source of maturity and gratitude. "He battled through his own fair share of injuries and adversity. Just having to overcome," Brees told Fox News Digital. "So again, I think you learn a lot, develop a lot of gratitude. I think he was at a point in his career where he didn’t think the NFL was going to be an option."
Brees also drew comparisons between Shough and Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen, citing Shough's size, athleticism, and strong arm. "He’s super talented. He’s big, strong, can throw the ball. Very good athlete, so you can do a lot in the run game with him. He has a lot of Josh Allen qualities in that way — running with the size and athleticism," Brees said.
The Saints have focused on building a strong offensive unit around Shough. The team re-signed Chris Olave to a long-term deal, drafted Jordyn Tyson, and acquired running back Travis Etienne Jr. Shough also has veteran running back Alvin Kamara and tight end Juwan Johnson at his disposal. The team has also invested in its offensive line, drafting tackles in the first round in the previous two years. Brees emphasized the role of Kellen Moore as a talented offensive play-caller and developer of quarterbacks.
"For all those reasons, I think he’s poised to continue to go in this upwards trajectory," Brees stated, expressing confidence in Shough's potential to build on his progress from the previous season.