Rookie quarterback Tyler Shough led the New Orleans Saints to a 24-20 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last Sunday. In his second ever victory, Shough managed to tie a franchise record.
This time, it was for the most rushing touchdowns in a single game, with two. He joins Saints Hall of Fame quarterback Archie Manning, who scored his two back in October of 1971 against the Dallas Cowboys, as the only other rookie quarterback to achieve this feat while wearing black and gold.
Kellen Moore thought Sunday was an example of Shough's resiliency. "Really good first drive; we had to navigate some stuff through the second quarter. It wasn't necessarily what we were hoping for; it wasn't going out the way we wanted it to," Moore said when asked about what he saw from Shough. "The second half, he just responded really well, and his legs came alive and became a huge impact on the game, which he needed in those conditions."
Tyler Shough is on the verge of putting himself in the Saints record books multiple times over
When it comes to rookie quarterbacks in Saints history, you're pretty much competing with Manning. The matchup with the Buccaneers saw Shough tie Manning's rushing touchdown record and surpass his record of 52 yards by a rookie.
The second-round draft pick already has his name in the record books with the most passing yards in one game with 282, and he is oh so close to getting his name in there again. Right now, he is just 66 yards away from the most rushing yards in a season by a Saints rookie quarterback (which is 172, set by Archie Manning) and 105 passing yards away from the most passing yards in a season by a Saints rookie QB (which is 1,317, set by Spencer Rattler in 2024). Lastly, he's two touchdown passes away from passing Manning's rookie record of six passing touchdowns.
Barring injury, Shough will likely end the season as the most decorated rookie quarterback in Saints history. He'll have the most single season passing yards and rushing yards in franchise history by a rookie. He already holds the crown for each of those stats in a single game. Shough will also have the most passing touchdowns, and total touchdowns. While he's four away from passing the latter achievement, you could reasonably see Shough snatch a few of those crowns this week.