NEWYou can now listen to Pakinomist articles!
As New Orleans Saints quarterback Tyler Shough sat in the star-studded NFL Honors crowd 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 one who is already making a big impact in his NFL career.
Drew Brees, second all-time in yards in NFL history, was a first-ballot Hall of Famer, and that was confirmed last week before Super Bowl LX when he was the last member of the Class of 2026 to be called to the stage.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON Pakinomist
New Orleans Saints quarterback Tyler Shough (6) runs for a gain in the third quarter against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium on Dec. 7, 2025. (Nathan Ray Seebeck/Imagn Images)
Brees is an NFL legend, but he’s royalty, with Shoough now trying to cement himself as the franchise quarterback, just as his predecessor did years ago.
Shoough spoke with Pakinomist Digital in a recent interview while in San Francisco with Panini America, where he touched on Brees’ impact, which has already been felt after a successful rookie campaign.
“He’s amazing. 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 ripped trading card packs and enjoyed Super Bowl week in the Bay Area. “He’s the pinnacle of being a quarterback in my opinion. He was huge for me.”
CONTROVERSIAL PRO FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2026 UNVEILED
Shough, the Saints’ second-round pick out of Louisville, was not the 2025 Week 1 starter for first-year head coach Kellen Moore, but rather was slated to sit behind Spencer Rattler.
That didn’t deter Shough from continuing his preparation process, which was an issue in his conversations with Brees.
“I got to talk to him during the season when I was still the backup about his process and, ‘How do you attack every day?’ It really helped me, being able to just go out there, not 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)
Shoough eventually got the chance to be the Saints’ starter, going 5-4 in that span, which included a four-game hitting streak in December that ultimately bolstered the Saints’ belief that he could be their franchise man under center moving forward.
Despite the stamp of approval from both the front office and Moore, Shough says he’ll continue to move forward with the best advice Brees has given him so far.
“For me, what you have to treat every day and every week with your process is the same, no matter who you play, the result, what your role is,” he said. “That way, when you’re out there, the moment doesn’t feel too big. I feel like it really resonated with me.”
Shoough said he never wants to be complacent in the NFL. After all, “Tom Brady had to hand over to another team at some point,” as Shoough said. But he would obviously love to cement himself as the right fit at quarterback in New Orleans.
Listening to the advice of one of the best who ever made it 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/Gerald Herbert)
“Obviously, full circle now, I just saw him this morning after he got the Hall of Fame induction and we got to talking,” Shough said of Brees. “He’s been great and hopefully we can continue to develop that relationship. What an incredible example of greatness.”
RIP PACKAGES AND MORE WITH PANINI
While Shough is ready to mature as a player, he felt good about acting like a kid again as he ripped packages, 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 in the excitement of fans and other NFL players throughout his first Super Bowl week.
New Orleans Saints quarterback Tyler Shough explained how influential Drew Brees has already been on his career. (GETTY)
“I had a couple,” he said when asked about some of the standout cards he drew. “It was kind of crazy, the first two packs I opened, the first two cards were my Louisville card and the Saints card — it was one of 50 and it had a patch on it, too. Everyone was going crazy in here because I hadn’t even gotten my own card yet. I’ve signed so many.
“It was kind of a dream come true to see myself on my first NFL Panini card because I had some before, but I hadn’t done it yet. It’s great to be here and hang out with everybody.”
