Tyler Shough and ‘best atmosphere in NFL’ can restore the glory days in New Orleans

Charlie Smyth really landed on his feet after an unusual route into the NFL.

The Northern Irish former Gaelic football star came through the International Player Pathway in 2024.

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He won the New Orleans Saints‘ starting job from Blake Grupe midway through last season, meaning he traded a career as a teacher for kicking field goals in Caesar’s Superdome.

The iconic venue has hosted more Super Bowls than any other stadium and Smyth — an NFL fan long before he made his transition — says there is nowhere like it.

“Whenever we’re winning football games in the Dome, there’s no other stadium [like it] in the NFL,” he said. “I just remember watching the Saints on TV, you know, 2017 through 2020 before I came out here, whenever we were pushing for the Super Bowls.

“And you could hear it on the TV, like the announcer’s struggling to even just talk just because how loud it was.”

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2026 Hall of Fame inductee Drew Brees‘ retirement in 2020 led to some lean years in the Big Easy.

Sean Payton joining the Denver Broncos a year later didn’t help much either.

But despite going 6-11 in 2025, there is a new optimism around the organization with Tyler Shough showing the potential to be a franchise quarterback in his rookie year.

New Orleans added Jordyn Tyson to a receiver room, which already boasts Chris Olave, via the draft and Smyth thinks the Superdome could be bouncing again very soon.

“That’s where I feel like this team’s going, where we can, you know, back to get pushing for the top spots in the NFC and pushing on from there,” he added. “And that’s when the Dome gets really, really loud.

“So looking forward to hearing more of that this season.”

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Smyth has competition for his spot this year in the form of UFL Special Teams Player of the Season Tanner Brown.

The incumbent went 12-of-16 in 2025 and will hope his NFL experience stands him in good stead, but Brown is known to have a missile for a leg and landed from 60-plus yards last season.

Tyler Shough praised by Drew Brees

Head coach Kellen Moore will have a decision to make at some point, but his fate will be largely tied to Shough’s form.

The sophomore quarterback has been set up to succeed, but needs to continue his development.

He received a ringing endorsement from Brees, who tipped his former team to build on a solid end to the season.

“I’ve been really impressed with Tyler,” he said. “He was a second-round pick last year and had a chance to start the last half of the season.

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“They were really an ascending team there at the end of the year. It felt like it was all coming together for them.

“I think Tyler is a guy who’s mature beyond his years. He played seven years of college football, so I think he came in with a level of poise and maturity that’s a little unique for a young player. He’s only going to get better with more reps.”