Tyler Shough, Welcome to the New Orleans Saints!
Dear Mr. Tyler Shough,
Welcome to one of the greatest teams in the NFL! We’re looking forward to working with you and seeing what it is you are truly capable of this upcoming season. You were chosen for a reason among other contenders for your position because we are certain you will contribute to our team in 2025 and 2026 and perhaps beyond. Throughout your college-level playing of the game, you proved that in the right environment and with the right combination of players, you could accomplish what many quarterbacks worked toward and failed. Your experience alone was what attracted us to you becoming a member of the New Orleans Saints, and we are enthusiastic about our decision. We both know there is a lot of work ahead of us before our official season starts, so let’s jump right into learning a brief history about your new team.
The city of New Orleans, per their future team’s namesake, was awarded their franchise on “All Saints Day,” November 1st, 1966, by the National Football League, becoming the 16th team of the organization. Early in the first month of 1967, “Saints” became the name of the team, adopted the “fleur de lis” as their team logo, and would play their initial home game against the Los Angeles Rams on Sept. 17th in Tulane Stadium. In 1975, the Louisiana Superdome officially became the home of the Saints, where it continues to this day under the name “Caesars Superdome” or more famously known as the “Superdome.” Many incredible players have been on our team, including a quarterback from 1971 to 1982, Archie Manning, a kicker from 1982 to 1994, Morten Andersen, and a linebacker from 1981 to 1993, Rickey Jackson. Probably our most renowned player and likely soon-to-be Hall of Fame inductee is Mr. Drew Brees, who, under the incredible coaching of Sean Payton, led the team to win the 2009 NFC Championship and later on to our first Super Bowl victory. Although we haven’t won an NFC South Division Championship since 2020, we’re looking forward to ending that streak with you taking us all the way to the playoffs and perhaps the big game itself!
So, what are our expectations of you this season? Well, we know this is the first team for which you are professionally playing football. We know there’s going to be some adjustments to the rules, regulations, and culture of the organization. Fortunately, you will have about six months to become acclimated to how we do things down here in New Orleans. Our staff will introduce you to your fellow teammates, you’ll be in training from your initial day reporting into the locker room, and you’re going to encounter some great people who will want nothing more from you to succeed. There will be a lot of pressure on you as a quarterback, perhaps causing us to assign you temporarily as backup to our current QB, Mr. Derek Carr, from whom you can learn in his two seasons on the team. We have struggled with having a consistent and reliable quarterback since the departure of Mr. Brees at the end of the ’20 season, which means you have the opportunity to not only become a career QB with us, but also a leader who can lead and rally the team. Never forget the most important part of the New Orleans Saints: our fans. Without these sometimes rambunctious and rowdy individuals who treat every home game like it is “Mardi Gras” and a reason to party, we wouldn’t exist without them. They will look to you as the “head of a krewe” who will be the target of criticism or regarded as the hero of the game. Play every game with the confidence you’ve displayed every time you’ve stepped onto a field, and you’ll do fine. Please become accustomed to frequently hearing "When the Saints Go Marching In" and hearing "Who Dat?" being yelled at you.
Good luck, and again, welcome to the New Orleans Saints!
