In a race that went down to the wire – including through the third and final preseason game – second-year quarterback Spencer Rattler nudged across the line ahead of rookie Tyler Shough and was named the starter for the New Orleans Saints' regular-season opener Sept. 7, against Arizona in the Caesars Superdome.
Saints Coach Kellen Moore announced the decision Tuesday, three days after New Orleans dropped a 28-19 decision to Denver in the preseason finale.
In preseason, Rattler completed 30 of 43 for 295 yards and a touchdown, with an interception, and ran for 41 yards on seven carries. He also ran for a two-point conversion.
He started six games last season and played the second half of another, and completed 130 of 228 passes for 1,317 yards and four touchdowns, with five interceptions, for an injury-ravaged offense that was missing multiple starters, including receivers Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed.
Shough completed 36 of 54 passes for 333 yards and a touchdown in preseason, with an interception, and ran three times for 23 yards and a touchdown.
Each showed the ability to rebound from adversity, a characteristic Moore said he wanted to see displayed. Rattler threw a touchdown and ran for the two-point conversion after tossing an interception in the red zone against Jaguars in the second exhibition; Shough ran for a score after losing a fumble against Denver, and threw a touchdown shortly after throwing an interception returned for a touchdown in the preseason opener against the Chargers.
Shough, the Saints' second-round pick (No. 40 overall) this season, is New Orleans' highest-drafted quarterback since the franchise took Archie Manning with the second overall pick in 1971.
Spencer Rattler was named the starting quarterback of the New Orleans Saints on Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2025. Check out Rattler in action during the 2025 NFL preseason.
Check out the game action photos from the New Orleans Saints game against the Denver Broncos in Week 3 of the 2025 NFL preseason
Check out the game action photos from the New Orleans Saints game against the Denver Broncos in Week 3 of the 2025 NFL preseason
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Check out the game action photos from the New Orleans Saints game against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 2 of the 2025 NFL preseason.
Check out the game action photos from the New Orleans Saints game against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 2 of the 2025 NFL preseason.
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Check out the game action photos from the New Orleans Saints game against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 1 of the 2025 NFL preseason.
Check out the game action photos from the New Orleans Saints game against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 1 of the 2025 NFL preseason.
Check out the game action photos from the New Orleans Saints game against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 1 of the 2025 NFL preseason.
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