Spencer Rattler Named Saints’ Week One Starter Against Cardinals
On Tuesday, New Orleans Saints head coach Kellen Moore announced that former South Carolina quarterback Spencer Rattler will start in Week 1. The Saints open the season against the Arizona Cardinals — the same team Rattler led a game-winning drive against during the preseason.
Rattler, a fifth-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, started six of New Orleans’ final seven games last season. Many believed rookie second-rounder Tyler Shough from Louisville would be handed the starting job this year, but Rattler impressed in training camp and outperformed Shough in preseason action to earn the role.
Despite playing behind what was considered one of the NFL’s weakest offensive lines in 2024, Rattler managed to show flashes of promise during his rookie campaign. Now, with a full offseason of development, he’s earned another shot at leading the Saints.
New Orleans will kick off its season on Sunday, Sept. 7, at 1:00 p.m. against Arizona. The game will be broadcast on CBS and streamed on Paramount+.
Rattler’s South Carolina Legacy
Before arriving in the NFL, Rattler built an impressive resume with the Gamecocks.
In 2022, he threw for more than 3,000 yards while leading South Carolina to an 8-4 regular season finish. That run included back-to-back upset wins over top-10 opponents Tennessee and Clemson, knocking both rivals out of playoff contention. Rattler also set a school single-game record with six touchdown passes against the Volunteers.
He followed up with another 3,000-yard season in 2023, becoming just the second Gamecock quarterback — along with Todd Ellis — to surpass that mark twice. That year, he played a key role in helping receiver Xavier Legette blossom into an All-American.
After the Saints drafted him in 2024, South Carolina head coach Shane Beamer praised the selection. “I think [the Saints] are getting a guy with a huge upside,” Beamer said. “[He is a] fantastic person”.
