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The New Orleans Saints ended their season with a gut-punch 19-17 loss to the Atlanta Falcons on January 4, but rookie quarterback Tyler Shough made it clear he isn’t treating it like an ending.

Shough said he’s planning to “give everything” he has this offseason, with one goal in mind: getting the Saints into the playoffs and “fighting for a Super Bowl next year,” even after New Orleans finished 6-11.

And yes, Shough’s finish is coming with an awards subplot. He’s in the running for Offensive Rookie of the Year, and the betting market has treated it like a two-man race with Carolina Panthers rookie receiver Tetairoa McMillan .

Saints QB’s “Super Bowl Next Year” message comes with real pressure

Shough had a chance to author a season-ending comeback in Atlanta, and he almost did.

He finished with 259 passing yards, a touchdown pass and a rushing TD, but his late red-zone interception to Falcons defensive back Dee Alford sealed the Saints’ loss.

Still, the postgame tone from Shough wasn’t “what went wrong,” as much as “what’s next.” He framed the finale as tape, reps, and a launching point, and said he wants the Saints playing meaningful football late next season.

Saints head coach Kellen Moore backed that up, praising Shough’s growth and ability to respond after mistakes, a key theme as New Orleans heads into an offseason full of decisions. (Moore also said Shough’s ankle issue isn’t considered long-term.)

What it means for Saints offseason questions

The Saints finished 6-11 and will now pivot to evaluating what they have at quarterback and across the roster. A few months ago, the Saints were considered to be desiring a quarterback in the upcoming draft. And now, Shough’s last-season play has them considering other options, reportedly.

That’s where Shough’s messaging matters.

He didn’t talk like a placeholder. He talked like a guy who expects to be the guy, and Moore’s public praise (“development,” “growth,” and “ability to respond”) is the type of endorsement that tends to stick once teams get into film review mode and start laying out offseason plans.

Key detail to watch: whether New Orleans signals any kind of “QB1” path early in the spring (voluntary workouts, reps, offseason program structure), or if it clearly frames it as an open competition.

OROY race: Shough’s Week 18 vs. McMillan’s Week 18

As of Sunday morning (Jan. 4), Sportsbook Review listed McMillan as the favorite at -600 , with Shough at +390 to win Offensive Rookie of the Year.

On the field:

• Shough vs. Falcons: 259 passing yards, 1 pass TD, 1 rush TD, plus the late interception in a 19-17 loss.
• McMillan vs. Buccaneers (Saturday): four catches for 85 yards, lost a fumble in a 16-14 Panthers loss.

McMillan also finished the regular season at 1,014 receiving yards, setting a Panthers rookie receiving-yard record, which is a big part of his overall OROY case.

So Shough delivered the louder “QB stat line” this week, but McMillan has the season-long volume, touchdown production, and record-setting resume that voters tend to remember when the award is decided. Perhaps voters will wonder what Shough could have accomplished if the team let him loose to begin the season.

Erik Anderson is an award-winning sports journalist covering the NBA, MLB and NFL for Heavy.com. He also focuses on the trading card market. His work has appeared in nationally-recognized outlets including The New York Times, Associated Press , USA Today, and ESPN. More about Erik Anderson