Spencer Rattler Named Saints' QB1 over Tyler Shough for Week 1 vs. Cardinals

Spencer Rattler will enter the 2025 season as the New Orleans Saints' starting quarterback.

Head coach Kellen Moore named Rattler QB1 over rookie Tyler Shough during a Tuesday press conference.

Rattler was initially listed as one of three first-team quarterbacks alongside Shough and Jake Haener when the Saints released the team's first unofficial depth chart on Aug. 5.

Despite the even ranking, John Sigler of USA Today's Saints Wire reported that Rattler had spent the most time with the first-string offense.

Rattler then split playing time with Shough through three preseason appearances. He finished the August slate having gone 30-for-43 for 295 yards with a touchdown, an interception and a two-point conversion.

A 2024 fifth-round pick by the Saints, Rattler went into his rookie season as Derek Carr's backup but ended up making seven appearances and six starts while Carr was sidelined by injury.

Rattler recorded arguably the best start of his NFL career in Week 18, when he completed 61.9 percent of his passes for 240 yards and a touchdown with no picks.

The struggling Saints never won a game with him under center, and he ultimately recorded five interceptions to four touchdowns during his rookie campaign.

But the improvements Rattler showed throughout his rookie campaign, and the step forward he took during training camp, were enough to help him beat out Shough.

Selected with the No. 40 pick of the 2025 NFL draft after recording 3,195 passing yards and 23 touchdowns during his final college season with Louisville, Shough is now set to begin his pro career by backing up Rattler.

The Saints will meanwhile hope a stronger team, more experience and an offseason of preparation can lead to Rattler finding more success during his second NFL campaign.

Rattler is set to take the field for the first Week 1 start of his NFL career when the Saints open the 2025 season against the visiting Arizona Cardinals on Sept. 7.