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New Orleans Saints quarterback Spencer Rattler will start the season against his hometown Arizona Cardinals Sunday at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans. (Photo by Derick E. Hingle\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n
PHOENIX \u2013 Although he never considered himself an Arizona Cardinals fan, Spencer Rattler is excited to start against the team that played games less than 30 miles from where he grew up.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s pretty cool,\u201d Rattler said Wednesday. \u201cHometown team. Want to go out and have a good showing.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Saints recently named the Pinnacle High School graduate and Phoenix native the starting quarterback for the 2025 season. He\u2019ll take the field Sunday against the Cardinals in the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans.<\/p>\n
New Saints coach Kellen Moore announced Rattler had won the starting role August 26.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s done an awesome job this offseason,\u201d Moore told reporters. \u201cHe\u2019s just been consistent. He\u2019s made some really good decisions throughout this whole entire process and his ability to make plays with his arm and his feet have certainly shown up.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rattler is entering his second season with the Saints after they selected him in the fifth round of the 2024 NFL Draft. During his rookie season, Rattler started six out of the seven games he saw action in following injuries to starter Derek Carr. <\/p>\n
Rattler spent his formative years in the Valley, playing four years of football for the Pioneers under longtime coach Dana Zupke. <\/p>\n
During Rattler\u2019s time at Pinnacle, Zupke saw flashes of stardom that he knew could someday translate at the highest level.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve known (Rattler) for a long time, I\u2019ve known this phenom that he was,\u201d Zupke said. \u201cHe was kind of like what I would expect an NFL-type quarterback to be at an early age.\u201d<\/p>\n
Zupke still remains in contact with Rattler and finds joy in watching him continue to grow as a player. Zupke was thrilled to hear that he had landed the starting job.<\/p>\n
\u201cI texted him right away,\u201d Zupke said. \u201cI just told him I was proud of him. \u2026 I\u2019m one of those kinds (of coaches). \u2026 I just become a fan. I don\u2019t have any words of wisdom. He knows a lot more than I do at this point. I just get to say, \u2018Hey, I got to coach this guy.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
After beginning his NFL career with a season full of lineup turmoil, Rattler enters the 2025 season with the assurance of knowing he earned the starting position and has the full backing of Moore.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m really, really excited about Spencer,\u201d Moore said. \u201cHe\u2019s earned this opportunity, he\u2019s going to do a tremendous job for us.\u201d <\/p>\n
Moore\u2019s praise of Rattler echoes a growing sentiment among many close to the organization, notably Saints Hall of Fame quarterback Drew Brees.<\/p>\n