The New Orleans Saints didn't make the postseason and the 2025 season ended with a loss to the hated Atlanta Falcons, so why do things feel so positive heading into the offseason?
It all starts with the quarterback and the rise of rookie Tyler Shough, but there's a lot to like beyond that, from Kellen Moore's culture-building Year 1 to star performances from players like Chase Young and Chris Olave. Legendary Saints QB Drew Brees broke it all down this week on WWL.
"They should be … so encouraged," Brees told Bobby Hebert. "The way I always looked at it is, you have to keep in mind that the other teams in the division are going to get better, too. ... But at the same time I think you look at where we’re at right now and our ability to continue to add to our roster through the draft and free agency and you’ve got to feel good about where we are.”
Hear the full interview with Drew Brees in the player above. Can't see the embed? Click here.
The Saints started the year 1-7 before making the change at quarterback, ultimately finishing 6-11 and with a four-game winning streak as the young signal-caller continued to grow. He was lights out during the month of December, going 91-128 (71.1%) for 1,057 yards and 4 touchdowns against just one interception, while also adding a pair of critical rushing touchdown in a win over the Bucs in inclement weather. That stretch earned him NFC Offensive Rookie of the Month honors.
Brees wouldn't speculate as to whether the overall results might've played out differently had Shough taken over the starting role sooner.
"I’m assuming ... that it was a fair competition during training camp and that Spencer Rattler started because Spencer Rattler won the job, and you’re not just going to give the job to a guy, he’s gonna have to earn it, and so maybe he felt like playing Spencer Rattler gives us the best chance to win right now," Brees said. "So then at some point you reach a time in the season where it’s like hey, we need a spark or we need a change or Tyler has shown us enough now that hey, he deserves an opportunity, and then he gets an opportunity and he grew by leaps and bounds even after his first few starts and it got better and better as the year went on."
The Saints now enter an offseason with a full slate of draft picks to improve the roster and significant optimism to move forward with.
“I think there’s plenty of psychological benefits of that," Brees continued. "I think what we should be most proud is the fact that, I mean, I thought we were the best team in the division down the stretch."
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On Kellen Moore's impact on locker room/gaining respect
“It doesn’t [happen by accident] and so I give Kellen a ton of credit and … look no further than the ways the guys in the locker room talk about him, and the same way they talk about Tyler Shough, like, look no further than go and listen to the press conference of Demario Davis and some of these other guys when they talk about their coach and their quarterback. Very complimentary, like, so much belief in the scheme and the way that they’re operating the team. Look, both sides of the ball, offense and defense, they were new systems, right, and that’s not easy, especially when you’ve got a bunch of young players to embrace a new system and get really comfortable with it, so I think the fact that they were playing so well toward the end of the season really says a lot about how they embraced it and what that can look like going into next year.”
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On aging veterans making decisions on future
“It’s what every veteran player kind of battles is father time catching up with you. Look, there’s no doubt and then the season is long and it’s only getting longer. … We’ll have 18 games here at some point, right, so it’s just the ability to come back week after week and recover and be able to put that same level of, you know, effort and performance on the field week after week, so only those guys know, you know, what that looks like.
...
"All those guys could absolutely still do it, it’s just a matter of how much and just having a realistic expectation. It’s not fair for anybody to put unrealistic expectations on them and I think they need to be honest with, you know, themselves and with the organization as to OK, here’s what I can give you, here’s what I am capable of. That works, man, that works for both sides, let’s go.”