The NFL offices announced on Thursday that multiple New Orleans Saints players were given Player of the Month honors. Quarterback Tyler Shough was named the Offensive Rookie of the Month, and edge rusher Chase Young was named the NFC Defensive Player of the Month for December/January.
In the five-game stretch from Dec. 7-Jan. 4, Shough led the Black and Gold to a 4-1 record, including a four-game winning streak with three fourth-quarter game-winning drives. In those games, the former 40th overall pick led all NFL rookies in completions, completion percentage, passing yards, passer rating, and third-down passer rating, as well as victories and fourth-quarter game-winning drives.
In 10 games with eight starts, Shough completed 67.6% (third-highest among qualifying rookies all-time) of his passes for 2,384 yards with 10 touchdowns, only six interceptions, and a 91.3 passer rating, with his 103.3 third-down passer rating leading the NFL. His standout rookie season made him one of the front-runners for this season’s Associated Press NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year honor.
Young earned the conference’s top defensive honor after standout performances over the final five games of the 2025 season, totaling 19 tackles, five sacks (third in the NFL during December/January), six tackles for loss, one forced fumble, and two fumble recoveries as the Saints closed the season with a 4-1 record. Two weeks ago, when New Orleans defeated the Tennessee Titans on the road, Young had a strip sack of Titans quarterback Cam Ward that he recovered for a touchdown.
After missing the first five games of the season due to a calf injury, the former second overall pick started the final 12 games of the 2025 season and was a standout on the Black and Gold defensive line, recording 38 tackles (22 solo), a career-high 10 sacks, a career-high 11 stops for a loss, four pass breakups, three forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries (tied for first in the NFL).
