Spencer Rattler Bio
Spencer Benson Rattler (born September 28, 2000) is an American professional football quarterback for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League (NFL). Standing 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) and weighing 211 lb (96 kg), Rattler began his NFL career in 2024 after a high-profile college tenure split between the Oklahoma Sooners and the South Carolina Gamecocks. He was selected by the Saints in the fifth round of the 2024 NFL draft with the 150th overall pick.
Known for his strong arm and competitive poise, Rattler entered the league as one of the most talked-about quarterback prospects of his recruiting class. He quickly became a starter in New Orleans and has since logged meaningful playing time across his first two professional seasons.
Early Life and Background
Spencer Benson Rattler was born in Phoenix, Arizona, on September 28, 2000. He attended Pinnacle High School in Phoenix for all four years, where he emerged as one of the most decorated quarterbacks in Arizona high school history. During his prep career, Rattler broke the Arizona high school passing record on his 18th birthday, finishing with 11,083 passing yards, 116 passing touchdowns, 1,040 rushing yards, and 14 rushing touchdowns.
Rattler starred in the Peter Berg-directed Netflix sports documentary series QB1: Beyond the Lights during his final season at Pinnacle. Early in his senior year, he was named MVP of the Elite 11 at The Opening in Texas. His senior season ended with a suspension tied to a code of conduct violation, but his overall body of work kept him among the nation’s top quarterback recruits.
By the end of his sophomore year, Rattler had received 14 NCAA Division I offers, including from Alabama, Notre Dame, and Miami. He committed to Oklahoma in June 2017, signed his letter of intent in December 2018, and was rated a five-star quarterback by 247Sports and Rivals.com, as well as a four-star by ESPN, making him the consensus number-one quarterback and number-one overall prospect from Arizona in the 2019 recruiting class.
Path to American Football
Rattler’s path to elite quarterback play began in the Phoenix area, where his early production set the stage for national attention. His record-breaking high school career, combined with his Elite 11 MVP recognition, established him as a can’t-miss prospect and gave him a platform to develop his skills against top-tier competition.
The Netflix series QB1: Beyond the Lights offered Rattler a national audience and further raised his profile heading into college. With his commitment to the Oklahoma Sooners secured, he transitioned into a top-tier program under head coach Lincoln Riley, widely regarded as one of the best developers of college quarterbacks. That foundation prepared him for the demands of Big 12 and SEC competition.
Spencer Rattler Career
Early Career (2019)
Rattler enrolled at Oklahoma on June 12, 2019, and saw action in three games as a true freshman, including a College Football Playoff Semifinal appearance against LSU. He redshirted the 2019 season, preserving a year of eligibility while learning the Sooners’ offensive system and adjusting to the speed of the college game.
The redshirt year gave Rattler time to develop behind established veterans and to prepare for an open quarterback competition. When the 2020 season began, the Sooners entrusted the offense to their highly regarded young passer, signaling a new era in Norman.
Oklahoma Breakthrough (2020–2021)
Going into his redshirt freshman year, Rattler competed with Tanner Mordecai for the starting job and won the role, which was announced on September 1, 2020. He made his starting debut on September 12 against Missouri State and tied the Oklahoma record for most touchdown passes through two weeks with eight, a mark set by Sam Bradford in 2008.
As the starting quarterback in 2020, Rattler led the Oklahoma Sooners to a sixth consecutive Big 12 Championship, a 27–21 victory over Iowa State. His efforts earned him first-team All-Big 12 honors, confirming his status as one of the conference’s top passers. However, his 2021 season took a difficult turn when he was benched during the second quarter of the Red River Rivalry game against Texas, with Caleb Williams taking over the rest of the way.
South Carolina Breakthrough (2022–2023)
In December 2021, Rattler announced his decision to transfer to the University of South Carolina to play for head coach Shane Beamer. As the starting quarterback in 2022, Rattler led the Gamecocks to an 8–5 record while throwing for 3,012 yards and 18 touchdowns, despite throwing 12 interceptions during a midseason stretch described as underwhelming.
Rattler’s Gamecocks breakout came in the final two regular-season games, when he threw for 438 yards and six touchdowns in a win over No. 5 Tennessee, breaking the program record for most touchdown passes in a game. The following week, he passed for 360 yards and two touchdowns in a win over No. 8 Clemson, becoming the first South Carolina starting quarterback to beat the rival Tigers since Connor Shaw in 2013. South Carolina reached its highest College Football Playoff ranking ever and its highest AP ranking since 2014, finishing the 2022 season ranked No. 23.
In 2023, Rattler returned to South Carolina and posted career highs with 3,186 passing yards and 275 completions. His season was described as one of the best quarterback seasons in school history, and he finished his Gamecocks career ranked fifth in career passing yards and first in career completion percentage at the program.
New Orleans Saints Era (2024–Present)
Rattler was selected by the New Orleans Saints in the fifth round with the 150th overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft. A record 137 players were selected between Rattler and the previous quarterback drafted, Bo Nix, marking an unusual gap at the position in the common draft era. During the 2024 preseason, Rattler completed 20 of 38 pass attempts for 202 yards and a passing touchdown, and added an 8-yard rushing touchdown.
After starting quarterback Derek Carr suffered an injury in Week 5 of the 2024 season, Rattler became the Saints’ starting quarterback in Week 6 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He finished his rookie season playing in seven games and set a franchise record for most passing yards by a rookie quarterback, ending the year with 1,317 passing yards, four touchdowns, and five interceptions.
Heading into 2025, Rattler was named the Saints’ starting quarterback by first-year head coach Kellen Moore after a competition that included Jake Haener and rookie Tyler Shough. Through the early part of the season, Rattler produced 207 yards and three touchdowns in a Week 2 loss to the San Francisco 49ers and earned his first career victory in Week 5 against the New York Giants. Following a 1–7 stretch, he was eventually benched in favor of Shough as the Saints reshuffled their quarterback plans.
Driving Style and Strengths
Rattler is recognized for his strong arm, confident pocket presence, and aggressive downfield passing. His college film showed the ability to attack all three levels of the field, and his comfort within spread and RPO-based systems has translated to the Saints’ offense. He also brings the mobility to extend plays and pick up yards with his legs, an element that has added another dimension to his game at the professional level.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Rattler’s signature moments is his 2022 record-setting performance against No. 5 Tennessee, where he broke the South Carolina single-game passing touchdown record. His rivalry-week win over No. 8 Clemson the following week cemented his place in Gamecocks history, and his 2024 rookie passing-yardage record for the Saints gave him an early professional milestone to build on.
Spencer Rattler Career Wins
Across his college and professional career, Spencer Rattler has accumulated a varied set of team victories, individual awards, and statistical milestones. From Big 12 championships to signature upsets in the SEC, his win resume reflects both team success and individual production.
Oklahoma Highlights
During his time as Oklahoma’s starting quarterback, Rattler led the Sooners to a Big 12 Championship in 2020 with a victory over Iowa State. He earned first-team All-Big 12 honors that season, capping a year in which he set program passing marks and helped Oklahoma extend its conference title streak to six.
South Carolina Highlights
At South Carolina, Rattler’s most memorable wins came in back-to-back games against top-10 opponents at the end of the 2022 regular season. He is the first South Carolina starting quarterback to beat Clemson since Connor Shaw in 2013, and he finished his Gamecocks career ranked first in school history in career completion percentage.
Other Wins & Performances
Rattler earned MVP honors at the 2024 Senior Bowl and was also named MVP of the Elite 11 in 2018. His first NFL victory came in Week 5 of the 2025 season against the New York Giants, a milestone win that came after an 0–4 start to the year.
Spencer Rattler Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public details about Spencer Rattler’s immediate family are limited in available sources. He grew up in Phoenix, Arizona, where he developed into one of the most highly recruited quarterbacks in the country, but extended family and lineage information has not been widely reported.
Personal Life
Rattler has kept much of his personal life private, and there is limited confirmed information regarding a spouse or children. His professional and educational background, including his time at Pinnacle High School, the University of Oklahoma, and the University of South Carolina, remain the most documented parts of his life off the field.
2025 Season Performance
Spencer Rattler entered the 2025 NFL season as the New Orleans Saints’ starting quarterback under first-year head coach Kellen Moore. After a competitive preseason battle with Jake Haener and rookie Tyler Shough, Rattler earned the nod and opened the year under center in New Orleans.
His 2025 campaign began with an 0–4 stretch, but Rattler delivered his first career victory in Week 5 against the New York Giants with 225 passing yards and a touchdown. A Week 2 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers saw him throw for 207 yards and three touchdowns in a narrow 21–26 loss, highlighting his playmaking ability even in defeat.
Following a 1–7 start, the Saints made a change at quarterback, benching Rattler in favor of rookie Tyler Shough. His rookie-year production in 2024 and his early 2025 starts have given New Orleans a clearer picture of his long-term outlook as the team continues to evaluate its options under center.
