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As New Orleans Saints quarterback Tyler Shough sat among the star-studded crowd at NFL honors last Thursday night in San Francisco, he watched as one of his team’s legends was announced as one of the newest members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
And someone who is already making a huge 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 was confirmed last week before Super Bowl LX, as he was the last member of the Class of 2026 to be called to the stage.
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New Orleans Saints quarterback Tyler Shough (6) runs for a win during the third quarter against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium on December 7, 2025. (Nathan Ray Seebeck/Image Images)
Brees is an NFL legend, but he is royalty where Shough is now trying to establish himself as the franchise’s quarterback like his predecessor did many years ago.
Shough spoke with Pak Gazette Digital in a recent interview while in San Francisco with Panini America, where he addressed the impact Brees has already felt following a successful rookie campaign.
“He’s incredible. 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 broke into packs of trading cards and enjoyed Super Bowl week in the Bay Area. “In my opinion, he’s the pinnacle of a quarterback. He was big for me.”
CONTROVERSIAL PRO FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2026 REVEALED
Shough, the Saints’ second-round pick out of Louisville, was not the 2025 Week 1 starter for first-year head coach Kellen Moore, instead having 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 he was still a substitute about his process and, ‘How do you attack every day?’ It really helped me when I had the opportunity to just go out there, don’t do anything different and just attack,” Shough explained.
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, going 5-4 in that span, which included a four-game winning streak in December that ultimately solidified the Saints’ belief that he could be their franchise under center going forward.
Despite the seal of approval from both management and Moore, Shough says he will move forward with the best advice Brees has given him thus far.
“To me, you have to treat every day and every week with your process the same, regardless of who you play, the outcome or what your role is,” he said. “That way, every time you’re out there, the moment doesn’t feel too big. I feel like that really resonated with me.”
Shough said he never wants to be complacent in the NFL. After all, “Tom Brady at one point had to go to another team,” as Shough said. But he would obviously love to establish himself as the right quarterback in New Orleans.
Taking advice from one of the best to ever do it in the city and in 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/Gerald Herbert)
“Obviously it comes full circle now, I saw him this morning after he went into the Hall of Fame and we were able to talk,” Shough said of Brees. “It’s been great and hopefully we can continue to grow that relationship. What an incredible example of greatness.”
RIPPING PACKAGES AND MORE WITH PANINI
While Shough is ready to mature as a player, it felt great acting like a kid again, while tearing up packages, signing cards and more with Panini during Super Bowl week.
As a child, Shough was an avid trading card collector, so he found it a humbling experience to see himself on one and be able to share in the excitement of fans and fellow NFL players during their first Super Bowl week.
New Orleans Saints quarterback Tyler Shough explained the impact Drew Brees has had on his career. (GETTY)
“I had a couple,” he said when asked about some of the standout cards he drew. “It was a little crazy, the first two packs I opened, the first two cards were the Louisville card and the Saints card; it was a 50 and it had a patch on it too. Everyone was going crazy here, because I hadn’t even gotten my own card yet. I’ve been signing a lot.
“It was like a dream come true to see myself on my first NFL Panini card because I had some in the past, but I hadn’t done it yet. It’s awesome to be here and hang out with everyone.”
