In a season filled with surprises reshaping the NFL landscape, the latest shockwave comes from none other than Hall of Famer Morten Andersen. The man known as “The Great Dane” — who rarely comments on offensive strategy — delivered stunning praise for Kellen Moore and the Saints’ bold, unconventional quarterback development plan. According to Andersen, what Moore is doing with Tyler Shough “looks truly genius.”
The Saints entered 2025 with what many called the weakest QB room in the NFL: Spencer Rattler, Jake Haener, and rookie Tyler Shough — a trio with zero career wins. After Derek Carr’s unexpected retirement, media criticism exploded when New Orleans refused to sign a veteran quarterback. But Moore stayed committed to his philosophy: let a staff full of former quarterbacks mentor a new generation from the ground up.
And now, that philosophy is paying off in ways no one anticipated.
Rattler has shown major improvement, Haener has become steadier, but Shough has emerged as the brightest surprise — developing far faster than any preseason projection suggested. His poise in the pocket, his composure under pressure, and the speed of his growth have forced many analysts to reevaluate their early opinions.
One of the strongest voices of admiration came from Morten Andersen himself.
“I’ve watched generations of quarterbacks come into their own, but the way the Saints are developing Shough is truly unique,” Andersen said. “You can’t teach that level of calm. It comes from trust, the right system, and a coach who understands what makes a real quarterback. Moore saw something the rest of us missed.”
Andersen’s praise isn’t just an endorsement of Shough — it’s a validation of Moore’s bold philosophy: developing quarterbacks not through experience, but through environment, mentorship, and the collective wisdom of those who played the position at a high level.
ESPN analysts note that the Saints are becoming a “case study” for the modern QB development model: flexible, individualized, and emphasizing mental growth as much as mechanics.
Now, with Shough gaining confidence each week, Rattler rediscovering his identity, and Haener stabilizing the rotation, the Saints haven’t just found a temporary fix — they may have found their future.
And when a legend like Morten Andersen calls your plan “borderline genius,” the entire NFL has no choice but to pay attention.
In a season filled with surprises reshaping the NFL landscape, the latest shockwave comes from none other than Hall of Famer Morten Andersen. The man known as “The Great Dane” — who rarely comments on offensive strategy — delivered stunning praise for Kellen Moore and the Saints’ bold, unconventional quarterback development plan. According to Andersen, what Moore is doing with Tyler Shough “looks truly genius.”
The Saints entered 2025 with what many called the weakest QB room in the NFL: Spencer Rattler, Jake Haener, and rookie Tyler Shough — a trio with zero career wins. After Derek Carr’s unexpected retirement, media criticism exploded when New Orleans refused to sign a veteran quarterback. But Moore stayed committed to his philosophy: let a staff full of former quarterbacks mentor a new generation from the ground up.
And now, that philosophy is paying off in ways no one anticipated.
Rattler has shown major improvement, Haener has become steadier, but Shough has emerged as the brightest surprise — developing far faster than any preseason projection suggested. His poise in the pocket, his composure under pressure, and the speed of his growth have forced many analysts to reevaluate their early opinions.
One of the strongest voices of admiration came from Morten Andersen himself.
“I’ve watched generations of quarterbacks come into their own, but the way the Saints are developing Shough is truly unique,” Andersen said. “You can’t teach that level of calm. It comes from trust, the right system, and a coach who understands what makes a real quarterback. Moore saw something the rest of us missed.”
Andersen’s praise isn’t just an endorsement of Shough — it’s a validation of Moore’s bold philosophy: developing quarterbacks not through experience, but through environment, mentorship, and the collective wisdom of those who played the position at a high level.
ESPN analysts note that the Saints are becoming a “case study” for the modern QB development model: flexible, individualized, and emphasizing mental growth as much as mechanics.
Now, with Shough gaining confidence each week, Rattler rediscovering his identity, and Haener stabilizing the rotation, the Saints haven’t just found a temporary fix — they may have found their future.
And when a legend like Morten Andersen calls your plan “borderline genius,” the entire NFL has no choice but to pay attention.
