Tyler Shough has received plenty of endorsements since seizing the starting quarterback role. The most recent endorsement came from safety Justin Reid, who believes that Shough already has control of the locker room and can lead the New Orleans Saints back to the playoffs after a several-season drought.
Shough started in nine games for the Saints last season, posting a 5-4 record and leading the team to a resurgent stretch in its final few games. He completed 67.6 percent of his passes for 2,384 yards and 10 passing touchdowns, but he's not getting complacent. Shough is eying another step up in 2026.
“We have a young quarterback who is playing lights out right now," Reid said on Wednesday. "And the biggest thing for him is to do exactly what he was
doing before — just continue to build. Don’t get comfortable.”
For any team hoping to make a dramatic jump like the Saints are aiming for in 2026, Reid says the quarterback is the first requirement. In Shough, it appears the New Orleans front office has officially found their guy.
“Number one, you have to have a guy who can play quarterback, and I feel like we’ve got that box checked," Reid added. The 29-year-old veteran played with one of the game's best, Patrick Mahomes, on the Kansas City Chiefs.
Several around the team have seen significant growth in Shough since the end of the 2025 season — and it's not just on-field development. The second-year QB showed up in the spring with a more leadership-oriented mindset.
“The biggest jump that you can see right now is his leadership, his command of the huddle, his command of the offense, his confidence to stand up in front of the whole team and break down the huddle. That’s been a major jump, and that’s what you need out of your general on the field,” Reid said.
But on the field, Shough continues to grow. Reid has also been impressed by a characteristic of Shough’s passes that many quarterbacks struggle to develop: velocity without sacrificing touch.
“As a veteran player, you can see similar attributes in guys that you’ve played with, and you know what intangibles translate well,” Reid continued. “Certain things, like the flight of his ball—it’s a piercing ball, but it’s also very soft, which is very wide receiver-friendly. It’s easily catchable for wide receivers.”
The combination of arm talent, leadership, and continued development has convinced Reid that Shough is capable of leading the Saints into their next chapter. There's plenty of optimism in New Orleans about the team's potential; Shough is embracing the city and those expectations. The team must prove that now.
“The way he embraces the city is just awesome," Reid said. "People in New Orleans know what it means to have your stars embrace the city, and he’s done a great job of that. So, I think he’s the right man for the job.”
This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: Justin Reid: Saints QB Tyler Shough is 'the right man for the job'
