Saints name Spencer Rattler starting QB for Week 1 after preseason competition

The Saints have named Spencer Rattler as their starting quarterback for Week 1 after a preseason competition, per head coach Kellen Moore via Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. Rattler defeated rookie Tyler Shough and Jake Haener for the honor.

For New Orleans, this marks the beginning of life after Derek Carr. The veteran quarterback announced his retirement earlier this offseason, opening the door for a three-way quarterback competition that Rattler ultimately won.

Last season, both Rattler and Haener saw action after Carr went down with an injury. Rattler started six games as a rookie out of South Carolina, throwing for 1,317 yards, four touchdowns, and five interceptions across seven appearances. Haener, meanwhile, played in eight games with one start, finishing with 226 passing yards and a touchdown.

Shough, the other contender, brought plenty of experience from his lengthy college career. After beginning as a backup to Justin Herbert at Oregon in 2018, he spent three years at Texas Tech before breaking out at Louisville in 2024.

That season, he passed for 3,195 yards and 23 touchdowns against just six interceptions, helping make him a second-round pick by the Saints in the 2025 NFL Draft. At 25 years old, Shough entered camp a year older than Rattler.

Head coach Kellen Moore emphasized throughout the offseason that all three quarterbacks would be given a fair chance earlier this offseason: “All three quarterbacks, we’re going to let all three of these guys roll,” Moore said. “They’ve all earned these opportunities. We’ll let Jake, Spencer, and Tyler go through this process. We’ll stay patient, let them compete, and see how camp plays out.”

One notable omission from the competition was Taysom Hill. He remains on the roster, but primarily contributes at tight end and in specialty wildcat packages.

Meanwhile, Carr’s retirement stemmed from lingering questions about his shoulder. Doctors indicated that surgery was likely, and rather than risk missing the entire 2025 season, he chose to step away.

The decision cut short a four-year, $150 million deal he signed with New Orleans before the 2023 season. In his debut year, Carr threw for 3,878 yards and 25 touchdowns as the Saints finished 9-8. But injuries derailed his 2024 campaign, limiting him to 2,145 yards and 15 touchdowns.

Now, the Saints officially turn the page to Rattler. The former SEC standout enters his sophomore season with the opportunity to establish himself as the franchise quarterback. How long he can hold the job remains to be seen, but for now, New Orleans is ready to see what it has in its young signal-caller.

— On3’s Nick Schultz contributed to this article.