The New Orleans Saints just got a major piece of validation for their future at quarterback.
Saints quarterback Tyler Shough was named the 2025 Pepsi Zero Sugar NFL Rookie of the Year, the NFL and Pepsi announced on February 5, 2026, with the honor tied to the league’s fan-vote program at nfl.com/rookies.
It’s not the AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year (the one handed out at NFL Honors), but it is an official, league-backed award that typically tracks how quickly a rookie becomes appointment viewing, especially at quarterback.
The NFL just put a big stamp on Shough’s rookie season
The headline number: Shough finished with the highest completion percentage among rookies (67.6%), plus 2,384 passing yards (second among rookies) and a 91.3 passer rating (also second among rookies), per the award release shared by the Saints.
He also set Saints rookie franchise records for passing yards, passing touchdowns (10) and completion percentage, turning what could’ve been a typical “learning year” into something New Orleans can sell as a legitimate early foundation.
Shough’s statement hit the expected notes — gratitude to teammates and coaches, and a nod to Saints fans — but the bigger takeaway is that the NFL is now publicly attaching “Rookie of the Year” to his name heading into the 2026 offseason.
The moment that made people look twice
The award release pointed to a Week 17 performance that landed Shough in extremely rare air: he became just the second rookie ever to post an 80%+ completion rate, 300+ passing yards, and a 140+ passer rating in one game.
The only rookie listed alongside him for that specific statistical combo: Denver Broncos QB Bo Nix, who did it twice in 2024 (Nov. 17, 2024, and Jan. 5, 2025).
That’s the type of “on one graphic, on one list” note that tends to stick in fans’ minds, and it helps explain how a rookie with solid (not cartoonish) season totals still wins a fan-driven, league-promoted award.
What it means for the Saints heading into 2026
For New Orleans, this is the cleanest kind of offseason momentum: a quarterback storyline with receipts.
At minimum, the Saints can point to:
- Efficiency (completion rate) that traveled week-to-week as a rookie
- Franchise rookie records that reset the baseline for “what competent looks like”
- A signature game that signals a real ceiling, not just steady managing
And because this award is built on weekly nominees and fan voting, it also suggests Shough didn’t just compile stats; he stayed relevant nationally enough to win a process designed to spotlight “rising stars.”
Late in the season, Saints head coach Kellen Moore made it clear the organization believed Shough’s trajectory was real, not a flash.
In end-of-season comments on Jan. 8, 2026, Moore said, “We feel great with Tyler,” adding that Shough “has done an awesome job through this entire process,” and “he’s gotten a ton better” as opportunities piled up. Moore also pointed to what comes next as the real separator, noting the Saints are “excited to have a whole offseason to build.” That’s a meaningful signal for a rookie QB: the Saints aren’t just applauding his 2025 tape; they’re publicly framing 2026 as a year they can build around him.
Key stats & quick context
- Completion percentage (rookies): 67.6%
- Passing yards: 2,384
- Passer rating: 91.3
- Saints rookie records: yards, TD passes (10), completion %
Week 17 “rare air” line: 81.5% / 333 yards / 142.7 rating
NFL Honors: Saints Get More Great Tyler Shough News