Days Before Sunday Night Football, Panthers Head Coach Dave Canales Shocks the NFL With a Sarcastic Comment About Saints QB Tyler Shough — and the Reason Behind It Has Fans Outraged

Days Before Sunday Night Football, Panthers Head Coach Dave Canales Shocks the NFL With a Sarcastic Comment About Saints QB Tyler Shough — and the Reason Behind It Has Fans Outraged

New Orleans, Louisiana – November 5, 2025

With days still to go before the Sunday Night Football showdown between the Carolina Panthers and New Orleans Saints, a storm has already begun brewing — this time sparked by Panthers head coach Dave Canales and a sarcastic remark aimed at Saints rookie quarterback Tyler Shough.

During his Wednesday media availability, Canales was asked about the Saints’ offensive resurgence behind Shough, who has unexpectedly led New Orleans to a 5–3 record in his first full season as starter. But instead of offering praise, the Panthers coach took a sharp, dismissive tone that stunned reporters and fans alike.

“He’s a nice story,” Canales said with a grin. “But this league has a way of humbling young quarterbacks. Defenses catch up, film piles up, and reality hits. Let’s see if he still looks that calm when he’s facing us under the lights.”

The quote exploded across social media within hours, igniting outrage from Saints fans and even drawing criticism from former players, who accused Canales of disrespecting a rookie who’s earned his place through grit and performance.

Inside the Saints locker room, players quickly rallied around their young leader. Head coach Dennis Allen brushed off the comments, saying, “We’re not interested in the talk — we’re focused on the game.”

As for Tyler Shough, the 23-year-old quarterback remained composed when asked about Canales’s remarks.

“I’ve heard worse,” Shough said, his voice steady but his eyes sharp with focus. “If that’s what motivates them, that’s fine. For me, it’s about earning respect every snap. I don’t need to talk — I just need to play. I’ve been doubted my whole life, from college to the draft, and I’ve learned one thing: words fade, but performance lasts. When the whistle blows, no one remembers the quotes — they remember who stood tall when the pressure hit.”

Now, as kickoff approaches, all eyes are on how Shough will respond. What began as a simple media question has turned into a psychological battle — and if the young quarterback rises to the moment, Dave Canales’s sarcasm might just come back to haunt him in prime time.