New Orleans Saints quarterback Tyler Shough has won the 2025 Pepsi Zero Sugar NFL Rookie of the Year Award, a fan-voted prize recognizing his standout debut season that included franchise records and a surprising playoff push for the Who Dat Nation. The 24-year-old second-round pick edged out finalists like New York Giants QB Jaxson Dart, Las Vegas Raiders RB Ashton Jeanty and Carolina Panthers WR Tetairoa McMillan in online voting, capping a whirlwind year that saw him transform from unheralded draft pick to New Orleans hero.

Shough, selected No. 40 overall out of Louisville, completed just nine starts but delivered a 5-4 record as a starter, the best mark for any rookie QB in Saints history. His poise under pressure, elite completion percentage and knack for late-game comebacks earned widespread praise and positioned him as a finalist for the Associated Press Offensive Rookie of the Year, to be revealed at Thursday night’s NFL Honors in San Francisco.

Shough’s historic rookie stats lead all first-year QBs

Shough posted the highest completion rate among all rookies at 67.6 percent, good for second in passing yards with 2,384 and second in passer rating at 91.3. He shattered Saints rookie records for passing yards, touchdowns (10) and completion percentage, achievements made more remarkable by the fact he didn’t claim the starting job until Week 9 amid injuries to the depth chart ahead of him.

A signature Week 17 performance against the Tennessee Titans saw Shough go 22-of-27 for 333 yards and two touchdowns—numbers that made him just the second rookie ever to post an 80 percent-plus completion rate (81.5), 300-plus yards and a 140-plus passer rating in a single game, joining Denver’s Bo Nix in that rarified air. That outing fueled a four-game win streak, New Orleans’ longest since Drew Brees’ 2020 campaign, and kept the Saints in NFC South contention until the final weekend.​

Shough’s December-January surge earned him NFL Offensive Rookie of the Month honors, and teammates like WR Chris Olave openly campaigned for his AP award consideration, calling his Titans domination “crazy.” Even with a depleted offensive line and missing stars like Alvin Kamara, Shough thrived, proving his arm talent and decision-making translated seamlessly to the pros.​

From college journeyman to Saints savior

Shough’s path to New Orleans was anything but linear. A four-year college starter, he bounced from Texas Tech to Oregon to Louisville, posting 10,641 yards and 77 touchdowns across those stops while battling injuries that tested his resilience. Scouts praised his arm strength and mobility but questioned his durability; the Saints bet on his upside with a Day 2 pick, and he rewarded them immediately.

Injuries opened the door midseason, and Shough seized it. His debut start featured a game-winning drive capped by a 60-yard bomb to Olave, setting the tone for a stretch where he went 5-3 with nine TDs against five picks. Saints coach Kellen Moore likened the matchup against No. 1 overall pick Cam Ward to a “glimpse into the NFL’s future,” with Shough outdueling his counterpart in a comeback victory.​​

The Pepsi award, determined by fan balloting, reflects Shough’s rapid connection with Who Dat Nation. “I am truly humbled and honored,” Shough said in a team-released statement. “Coming in as a rookie, my goal was to do anything I could to contribute to our team’s success… This award is truly a reflection of all of their hard work,” he added, crediting teammates, coaches and fans.

Teammates, coaches rally behind Shough’s award push

Shough’s locker-room support was unanimous. RB Devin Neal tweeted “Tyler Shough = OROTY” after a key win, while Olave gutted through a back injury to post 119 yards and a score versus Tennessee, explicitly tying his effort to boosting Shough’s candidacy. “Oh yeah, it should be Tyler after this game. He went crazy today,” Olave said postgame.​

Saints legends chimed in too. Hall of Famer Rickey Jackson and former QB Bobby Hebert praised Shough’s moxie, with Hebert noting his wins in diverse conditions—home, road, outdoors—bolster his case. The franchise hadn’t claimed an offensive or defensive rookie award since Alvin Kamara and Marshon Lattimore in 2017, making Shough’s run a potential history-maker.​​

New Orleans’ resurgence around Shough extended to the defense and supporting cast. Stars like Chase Young, Cam Jordan and Juwan Johnson elevated their games, turning a middling squad into contenders and drawing envy from rebuilding teams league-wide.​

Statistical dominance in tight rookie QB race

Shough entered the final week as the betting favorite at +140 over McMillan, per oddsmakers, thanks to his 67.8 percent completion rate, 212.5 yards per game and 92.1 passer rating across 10 appearances. His 7.3 yards per attempt edged key rivals, and his five wins tied for the most among rookie starters despite limited opportunities.​

Comparisons underscored his edge:

Shough twice topped McMillan’s Panthers, including clinching scenarios that kept Carolina’s playoff hopes alive until late. His three-game streak of 250+ yards and zero picks as a rookie ranked third all-time, per ESPN Research.

Pepsi award’s fan-voted prestige and history

The Pepsi Zero Sugar NFL Rookie of the Year, launched in recent years, carries cachet as the league’s premier fan-driven honor. Past winners include Cincinnati’s Ja’Marr Chase (2021) and Detroit’s Jahmyr Gibbs (2023), blending popular appeal with on-field impact. Shough’s victory over a loaded field—Dart, Jeanty, Henderson, McMillan and Browns LB Carson Schwesinger—highlights his breakout appeal.

Unlike AP voting by media panels, Pepsi’s online poll captured grassroots excitement, amplified by Shough’s highlight-reel throws and clutch moments. Saints social channels buzzed with fan campaigns through Jan. 30, pushing him over the top.​

Shough’s intangibles shine amid adversity

What separated Shough was mental toughness. He navigated backup linemen, depleted weapons and blitz-heavy schemes without flinching, engineering comebacks like the Titans thriller where a 60-yard Olave strike flipped momentum. “Expectations remain high no matter who plays,” Shough said, crediting a next-man-up culture.​​

Analysts lauded his pocket presence and deep-ball accuracy, with Locked On Saints calling him the “clear frontrunner” after Titans heroics. NBC’s Fantasy Football Happy Hour debated his waiver-wire value but affirmed OROY buzz.

Future implications for Saints, Shough

Shough’s rookie laurels tee up big expectations. New Orleans eyes NFC South contention in 2026, with Shough as presumptive QB1 alongside rising talents like Olave and Audric Estime. An AP win tonight would cement his status; even without it, the Pepsi nod validates a season that exceeded draft projections.​​

For a franchise searching post-Brees, Shough embodies hope. His gratitude to fans—”Your unbelievable passion… inspires all of us”—resonates in a city where quarterback play defines identity. As he eyes Super Bowl LX honors, Shough’s message rings clear: “I can’t wait to see where we go from here!”

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The fall was the second highest in the UK, only topped by Greater London

Yorkshire and Humber businesses navigated tough times last year to see one of UK’s biggest falls in insolvency activity, new data has revealed. The latest R3 Annual Business Health Report has been published by R3, the trade body for restructuring, turnaround and insolvency professionals, uncovering insolvency and start-up activity within the regions, while highlighting sectors under financial stress, and exploring key business pressures.

Supported by data from CreditSafe, R3’s report shows insolvency activity – which includes administration and voluntary and compulsory liquidations – decreased by 9.9% across Yorkshire and the Humber in 2025. The fall was the second highest in the UK, with only Greater London, with an 11% drop, seeing a bigger reduction, followed by the North East with a 9.3% drop.

Areas seeing the biggest jumps in insolvency activity included Northern Ireland and Wales, at 20.2% and 11.7% respectively. While insolvency activity decreased in Yorkshire last year, the region’s performance in terms of new business start-ups was less positive. New start-ups In Yorkshire fell by 8.4%, with 49,605 new businesses registered in 2025.

Only Northern Ireland saw a bigger drop in the number of new businesses, down by 35.3% to 10,781. The report also looked at sector trend, with the UK picture suggesting a fragile operating environment for many local businesses.

Construction continued to account for the highest number of insolvency activities in the UK in 2025 (4,584 cases), despite a modest reduction of 6% on the previous year. The sector was exposed to rising material costs, delayed payments, skills shortages and weak investor confidence.

Construction sector companies to enter administration last year included Kingston Modular Systems, in Hull, which collapsed in September with the loss of 62 jobs. Sheffield based National Timber Group, which had bases across England and Scotland, went into administration in September, but parts of the business have since been rescued.

Meanwhile, Hull construction specialist Tucker Mechanical and Electrical Building Services closed operations in October after more than 50 years of trading.

Wholesale and retail (4,124 cases) and accommodation and food services (3,831 cases) also saw increased insolvency activity, reflecting pressure on margins as households reined in discretionary spending and businesses struggled to absorb or pass on higher costs. Manufacturing insolvencies also remained historically high with 2,188 cases, as companies contended with energy costs, supply chain disruption and subdued export demand.

Dave Broadbent, chair of R3 in Yorkshire and partner at BTG, said: “Despite the drop in insolvency activity locally, the R3 report shows that businesses, both regionally and nationally, are struggling to regain their footing in 2025 after several years of economic challenges. While inflation has now eased, the cumulative impact of higher costs, tighter credit conditions and weak demand continues to place significant pressure on local companies, particularly smaller and mid-sized firms with limited financial headroom.

“As we move into 2026, while cashflow and profit margins remain under pressure, seeking professional advice at an early stage from an R3 member can make a critical difference, giving viable businesses the best chance of survival and recovery.”

On The Up PR is targeting up-and-coming businesses across the region, according to founder Rob Stewart

A former national newspaper journalist has launched a public relations agency in Bristol for up-and-coming businesses. On The Up PR has been set up by ex-Daily Telegraph journo Rob Stewart and is aimed at SMEs across the South West business community.

The company will build on his experience working in regional and national media, he said, as well as a decade in charity communications with the Alzheimer’s Society and five years with local PR agencies.

“The South West is a real hotbed of entrepreneurial activity and that has inspired me to launch On The Up PR,” said Mr Stewart.

“I know from experience there are lots of amazing stories waiting to be told by the business leaders who are driving forward the region’s start-ups, scale-ups and more established companies.

“And I’m really looking forward to working with those firms which are committed to using media activity as a vehicle for growth – sometimes for the first time.”

Mr Stewart, who is based in the Westbury Park area of Bristol, says he has been “on a steep learning curve” since moving away from full-time journalism but counts himself “lucky to have worked for some brilliant PR people in the South West and to have achieved what are regarded as amazing results for clients”.

“That success is down to the combination of my core journalistic skills and commercial PR know-how which means I’m now ideally positioned to help companies of all shapes and sizes share their stories to gain meaningful impact,” he added.

Mr Stewart has already secured customers including Enable Law, a South West-based medical negligence and personal injury law firm, and Bristol-based Burleigh Create design agency, while also helping launch a new pickleball enterprise in Surrey.

U.S. employers’ announced job cuts surged in the month of January and hit the highest level since 2009, a new report shows.

Global outplacement and executive coaching firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas found that employers announced 108,435 job cuts in January – an increase from the 49,795 cuts announced in the same month last year. Job cuts increased 205% from December, when there were 35,553 layoffs announced.

This January saw the most layoffs for the month since 2009, when 241,749 cuts were announced. It was also the highest monthly total since October 2025, when there were 153,074 layoffs.

“Generally, we see a high number of job cuts in the first quarter, but this is a high total for January. It means most of these plans were set at the end of 2025, signaling employers are less-than-optimistic about the outlook for 2026,” said Andy Challenger, workplace expert and chief revenue officer for Challenger, Gray & Christmas.

PRIVATE SECTOR ADDED 22,000 JOBS IN JANUARY, WELL BELOW EXPECTATIONS

The transportation sector had the highest number of job cuts in the month of January with 31,243 announced, most of which came from logistics giant UPS announcing 30,000 cuts as it scales back on handling shipments for Amazon.

Technology firms announced 22,291 cuts in January, most of which came from Amazon, which announced 16,000 reductions as it reorganizes its management structure.

“[Amazon] CEO Andy Jassy, like many CEOs recently, has said AI will cost jobs in the coming years, but this cut appears to be due more to over hiring and reducing layers than to the new technology,” Challenger noted.

UPS TO CUT 30,000 MORE JOBS AMID TURNAROUND PLAN

Healthcare companies and health products manufacturers announced 17,107 job cuts in January, which was the most for the sector since April 2020 when 19,453 cuts were recorded.

“Healthcare providers and hospital systems are grappling with inflation and high labor costs. Lower reimbursements from Medicaid and Medicare are also hitting hospital systems. These pressures are leading to job cuts, as well as other cutting measures, such as some pay and benefits,” Challenger said.

Chemical manufacturers announced 4,701 cuts in January, which were primarily driven by an announcement at Dow amid an AI and automation shift.

AMAZON TO CUT 16,000 ROLES AS IT LOOKS TO INVEST IN AI, REMOVE ‘BUREAUCRACY’

The main reasons companies announced layoffs in January were contract loss, which was cited in relation to 30,784 cuts, while market and economic conditions followed with 28,392 cuts.

Other reasons included restructuring (20,044 cuts), closings (12,738) and artificial intelligence (7,624).

Challenger noted that it’s difficult to tell how much an impact AI is having on layoffs, saying that, “We know leaders are talking about AI, many companies want to implement it in operations, and the market appears to be rewarding companies that mention it.”

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The report also found that employers announced 5,306 hiring plans in January, the lowest total for the month since Challenger’s tracking of the metric began in 2009. 

That figure is down from the 6,089 hiring plans announced in the same month last year, as well as from the 10,496 announced in December.

Zurich Insurance

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increase; green up pointing triangle and Beazley BEZ 8.45%increase; green up pointing triangle agreed on an improved takeover bid valuing the U.K. cyber insurer at around 8.0 billion pounds ($10.96 billion).

The Swiss insurer has been courting the London-listed group since last year and in January went public with several offers that were turned down.

Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd (RVNL) reported a steady performance in the December quarter, with profit rising modestly, even as higher expenses limited margin expansion. The state-owned rail infrastructure company posted a net profit of Rs 324 crore in Q3FY26, up about 4% from Rs 312 crore in the same quarter last year. The improvement in profitability came despite marginal growth in topline and continued cost pressures.

Revenue from operations increased 3% YoY to Rs 4,684 crore, compared with Rs 4,567 crore in Q3FY25. Including other income of Rs 252 crore, total income for the quarter stood at Rs 4,936 crore, higher than Rs 4,836 crore a year ago.

Expenses, however, rose at a faster pace than revenue. Total expenses climbed to Rs 4,577 crore during the quarter, from Rs 4,480 crore in the year-ago period. Operating expenses increased to Rs 4,354 crore from Rs 4,219 crore, reflecting higher project execution costs.

As a result, profit before tax came in at Rs 415 crore, broadly flat compared with Rs 413 crore in the corresponding quarter last year.

On a nine-month basis, RVNL reported net profit of Rs 689 crore, lower than Rs 822 crore in the same period last year, while revenue from operations rose to Rs 13,716 crore from Rs 13,496 crore.

Alongside the results, the board announced an interim dividend of Rs 1 per share, representing 10% of the paid-up equity share capital, for the financial year 2025–26. The company has fixed February 11 as the record date to determine shareholder eligibility, and the dividend will be paid on or before March 6.