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(VIDEO) Saints’ Tyler Shough Claims Fan-Voted Pepsi Rookie Honor After Record-Breaking Season
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:
| Player | Record as Starter | Comp % | Yds/Game | YPA | Passer Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tyler Shough, Saints | 5-3 | 67.8% | 212.5 | 7.3 | 92.1 |
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!”
