The New Orleans Saints were plagued by turnover and availability in the 2025 season, which ultimately ended in a 6-11 record and the franchise's fifth straight year missing the playoffs. But within it grew a vision of hope that seems closer to a fire than a spark after New Orleans won four of its last five games.
The surge was fueled by an emerging defense and rookie quarterback Tyler Shough, a second-round draft pick whose playmaking ability and poise inspired his teammates to rally behind him.
Shough has played into contention for NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year by completing 204 of 295 passes (69.2 percent) for 2,256 yards and 10 touchdowns, with five interceptions, and rushing for 174 yards and three touchdowns on 42 carries in nine starts.
"I think there's a lot to be optimistic about," linebacker Demario Davis said. "No. 1, you have a solidified QB1. There's been a lot of quarterback changes over the last few years. I got a chance to see a lot of them since 9 (Drew Brees) walked out of the building (following the 2020 season). And this is probably the most excited everyone inside the organization and outside the organization has been about a quarterback.
"When you're kind of constantly shuffling that piece, which is the main piece, it becomes hard. I just think it's a credit to him and the plays that he's consistently showing and making that earned that trust. When you go into the offseason and you have that, it makes a big difference."
Shough, New Orleans' highest drafted quarterback since Archie Manning was taken with the No. 2 overall pick in 1971, embraces the expectations his play generated.
"I want to be perfect," he said. "I want to be the guy here for a long time and I know that goes back to my process and communication and leadership, and ultimately, what you put on tape. In order to do that, I have to be great with all those things — with my preparation.
"I think being able to watch guys that play at a really elite level, like (Rams quarterback) Matthew Stafford and (Bills quarterback) Josh Allen and what does that look like for them, and being able to learn from them. I think that's the encouraging thing, is to find bits and pieces of that and be able to implement it into my own game and figure out how I can to continue to get better."
The Saints also turned a corner defensively; after opponents averaged 27 points per game in the first nine, New Orleans held the last eight foes to 17.5 points per game.
"This is a great group," said cornerback Alontae Taylor, whose two sacks raised his career total to seven, a franchise record for cornerbacks. "This whole locker room — offensively, defensively, special teams — Coach (Kellen) Moore and those guys have done a really good job bringing in the right guys. This is probably some of the most fun I've had in my four years, probably the tightest that I've been with this defensive back group. Really good. Bright future here, for sure."
And much of it traces to Shough, the No. 40 overall pick last season, who will have a full offseason to seek improvement.
"I think it's just continual reps of the offense, mastering it," he said. "Making sure my footwork is dialed. I'm just really excited to be able to do that, to kind of develop that chemistry with a lot of the guys. It's a constant process. Looking back at these games, figuring out how I can be more consistent that way and be able to show up.
"For me, it's been so much fun because of how close we are. And I think that's the biggest lesson... I feel like the success we had is attributed to the culture that Kellen has developed, the culture that our leaders on the team have developed. That, and just having fun together and working hard, going back to our process. It's been a great thing to reiterate going into next year, and having that high standard set."
Davis, who completed his 14th NFL season with a career high 143 tackles, likes what he sees from a roster standpoint with players like Shough, rookie offensive tackle Kelvin Banks Jr., second-year cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry and linebackers Pete Werner and Danny Stutsman.
"The quality of guys who are developing on the roster – I think there's a lot to be excited about as far as heading into the offseason with a lot of momentum," Davis said. "Because what you have is no longer potential, but you have guys who are answering the call and becoming who they were projected to be. You don't always get that and you have all that happen at one time, it's a good thing."
