NEWYou can now listen to PK Press Club articles!
As New Orleans Saints quarterback Tyler Shough sat among the star-studded NFL Honors crowd last Thursday night in San Francisco, he watched one of his team’s legends be announced as one of the newest members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
And someone who is already making a major impact in his NFL career.
Drew Brees, who is second all-time in passing yards in NFL history, was a lock as a first-ballot Hall of Famer, and that was confirmed last week before Super Bowl LX as he was the last member of the 2026 class to be called on stage.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON PK Press Club
New Orleans Saints quarterback Tyler Shough (6) runs for a gain during the third quarter against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium on December 7, 2025. (Nathan Ray Seebeck/Imagn Images)
Brees is an NFL legend, but he is royalty where Shough is now trying to cement himself as a franchise quarterback like his predecessor did many years ago.
Shough spoke with PK Press Club Digital in a recent interview while in San Francisco with Panini America, where he discussed Brees’ impact that has already been felt after a successful rookie campaign.
“He’s awesome. He’s an incredible mentor because of who he is on and off the field,” Shough said from the Panini Prizm VIP lounge, where he and other NFL stars tore through packs of trading cards and enjoyed Super Bowl week in the Bay Area. “He’s the pinnacle of quarterbacking in my opinion. He was important to me.”
THE CONTROVERSIAL PRO FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2026 REVEALED
Shough, the Louisville Saints’ second-round pick, was not the 2025 Week 1 starter for first-year head coach Kellen Moore, but instead had to sit behind Spencer Rattler.
That didn’t deter Shough from continuing his preparation process, which was a sticking point in his conversations with Brees.
“I was able to talk to him during the season, when I was still a substitute, about his process and, ‘How do you attack every day?’ It really helped me when I had the opportunity to go out there and not do anything different and just attack,” Shough said.
New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (9) before the game against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee on December 22, 2019. (Christopher Hanewinckel/USA TODAY Sports)
Shough finally got his chance to be the Saints’ starter, and he went 5-4 during that span, which included a four-game winning streak in December that finally solidified the Saints’ belief that he could be their franchise under center moving forward.
Despite the approval from the front office and Moore, Shough says he will continue to move forward with the best advice Brees has given him so far.
“For me it was about treating every day and every week the same, no matter who you play, the result, what your role is,” he said. “That way, whenever you’re there, the moment doesn’t seem too important. I feel like it really touched me.”
Shough said he never wants to get complacent in the NFL. After all, “Tom Brady had to, at some point, move to another team,” as Shough said. But he would obviously like to establish himself as the right choice at quarterback in New Orleans.
Taking advice from one of the best in the city and the league itself is a great way to start.
New Orleans Saints quarterback Tyler Shough (6) throws a pass against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 26, 2025, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Gérald Herbert)
“Obviously it comes full circle now, I saw him this morning after he was inducted into the Hall of Fame and we got to talk,” Shough said of Brees. “He was great and I hope we can continue to develop this relationship. What an incredible example of greatness.”
RIP PACKS AND MORE WITH PANINI
While Shough is ready to mature as a player, he felt good acting like a kid again, as he ripped packs, signed cards and more with Panini during Super Bowl week.
As a child, Shough was an avid collector of trading cards, so he called it a humbling experience to see himself on one and be able to share the excitement of fans and other NFL players throughout his first Super Bowl week.
New Orleans Saints quarterback Tyler Shough opened up about how Drew Brees has already impacted his career. (GETTY)
“I’ve had a few,” he said when asked about the notable cards he’d drawn. “It was kind of crazy, the first two packs I opened, the first two cards were the Louisville card and the Saints card – it was one of 50, and it also had a patch on it. Everyone was going crazy here, because I hadn’t even gotten my own card yet. I signed so many.
“It was kind of a dream come true to see myself on my first NFL Panini card because I’ve had one in the past, but I hadn’t done it yet. It’s great to be here and hang out with everyone.”
