Spencer Benson 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). He played college football at the University of Oklahoma from 2019 to 2021 and at the University of South Carolina from 2022 to 2023. Rattler was selected by the New Orleans Saints in the fifth round of the 2024 NFL Draft with the 150th overall pick. Known for his strong arm and playmaking ability, Rattler has appeared in both the college football playoff and the NFL, establishing himself as a notable quarterback prospect from the 2024 draft class.
Early Life and Background
Spencer Benson Rattler was born on September 28, 2000, in Phoenix, Arizona. He attended Pinnacle High School in Phoenix, where he became one of the most decorated high school quarterbacks in Arizona history. Rattler broke the Arizona high school passing record on his 18th birthday, throwing for 11,083 yards with 116 touchdowns and adding 1,040 rushing yards with 14 touchdowns over his four-year career. His exceptional high school performance earned him recognition as a five-star prospect by 247Sports and Rivals.com.
Early in his senior season, Rattler was named MVP of the Elite 11 at The Opening in Texas, solidifying his status as the consensus number one quarterback and top overall prospect from Arizona in the 2019 recruiting class. He starred in the Netflix documentary series QB1: Beyond the Lights, which followed his senior season. However, his final season ended prematurely when he was suspended for violating a district code of conduct related to cheating. He initially cited a sprained MCL but later was advised not to discuss the nature of the violation.
Path to American Football
By the end of his sophomore year in high school, Rattler had received 14 offers from NCAA Division I schools, including Alabama, Notre Dame, and Miami. On June 19, 2017, he visited the University of Oklahoma on an unofficial visit and committed to play for coach Lincoln Riley just one week later. On December 19, 2018, Rattler signed his letter of intent to join the Oklahoma Sooners football program.
Rattler was considered the top quarterback prospect in his class, earning elite recruiting rankings and significant attention from major college football programs. His decision to attend Oklahoma set the stage for his transition to major college football, where he would compete for the starting quarterback position and develop his skills under one of college football’s most successful coaches.
Spencer Benson Rattler Career
College Career (2019–2021)
Rattler enrolled at Oklahoma on June 12, 2019. He saw action in the second half of the College Football Playoff Semi-Final Game against LSU during his freshman season. Rattler appeared in three games total in 2019 and redshirted his freshman year, preserving his eligibility while gaining valuable playoff experience.
Going into his redshirt freshman season, Rattler competed with Tanner Mordecai for the starting quarterback job. On September 1, Lincoln Riley announced that Rattler had won the starting position. He made his starting debut on September 12, 2020, against Missouri State. On September 26, Rattler tied the Oklahoma record for most touchdown passes through two weeks with eight, matching Sam Bradford’s 2008 achievement. He led the Sooners to a sixth consecutive Big 12 Championship with a 27–21 win over Iowa State and earned first-team All-Big 12 honors for his performance.
South Carolina Gamecocks (2022–2023)
Following his benching during Oklahoma’s 2021 game against Texas, Rattler announced in December 2021 that he would transfer to the University of South Carolina to play for head coach Shane Beamer. The move reunited him with coaches and players he had connections with from his Oklahoma days.
As South Carolina’s starting quarterback in 2022, Rattler led the Gamecocks to an 8–5 record, throwing for 3,012 passing yards with 18 touchdowns. While his first ten games showed inconsistent performance with more interceptions than touchdowns, he finished the regular season with two historic upsets. He threw for 438 yards and six touchdowns in a win over number five Tennessee, breaking the program record for most touchdown passes in a single game. The following week, he led the Gamecocks to a win over archrival number eight Clemson, becoming the first South Carolina starting quarterback to defeat Clemson since 2013. These victories made Rattler the first South Carolina quarterback to ever win back-to-back games against top 10 teams. South Carolina reached its highest CFP ranking at number 19 and highest AP ranking at number 20 that season.
In 2023, Rattler threw for a career-high 3,186 yards and 275 completions, though the Gamecocks finished with a 5–7 record. His performance was described as one of the best quarterback seasons in school history. Rattler declared for the 2024 NFL Draft following the season, finishing fifth in career passing yards and first in career completion percentage at South Carolina. He played in the 2024 Senior Bowl and was named its MVP.
New Orleans Saints (2024–Present)
Rattler was selected by the New Orleans Saints in the fifth round of the 2024 NFL Draft with the 150th overall pick. There were 137 players selected between Rattler and the previous quarterback drafted, Bo Nix, setting a record for the common draft era. In the 2024 preseason, Rattler completed 20 of 38 pass attempts for 202 yards with one passing touchdown and an 8-yard rushing touchdown.
After starting quarterback Derek Carr suffered an injury in Week 5, Rattler became the Saints’ starting quarterback for Week 6 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He completed 22 of 40 passes for 243 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions in a 51–27 loss. In his second start against the Denver Broncos, he completed 25 of 35 passes for 172 yards with 34 rushing yards but was sacked six times and left the game with a hip injury. Rattler finished his rookie season with 1,317 passing yards, four touchdowns, and five interceptions across seven games played, setting a franchise record for most passing yards by a rookie quarterback.
Driving Style and Strengths
Rattler is known for his strong arm strength, ability to make plays outside the pocket, and his experience in high-pressure situations. His college career demonstrated his capability to lead comebacks and perform in big games against top-ranked opponents. His quick release and accuracy on short to intermediate routes complement his ability to extend plays with his mobility.
Notable Events and Milestones
Rattler’s career has been marked by several significant milestones, including being named MVP of the Elite 11 and earning first-team All-Big 12 honors. His record-breaking performance against Tennessee in 2022, where he threw six touchdowns, stands as a South Carolina program record. His selection by the Saints in the 2024 NFL Draft represented the culmination of his journey from high school star to professional quarterback. His 1,317 passing yards as a rookie set a Saints franchise record.
Spencer Benson Rattler Career Wins
Rattler’s career includes notable victories across college football and his early NFL career. His most significant wins came during his two seasons at South Carolina, where he led the program to signature victories against top-ranked opponents.
College Football Highlights
At Oklahoma, Rattler led the Sooners to the 2020 Big 12 Championship with a 27–21 victory over Iowa State. His most celebrated performances came at South Carolina, where he orchestrated upsets over number five Tennessee and number eight Clemson in consecutive weeks during the 2022 season. Those wins helped South Carolina achieve its highest CFP ranking at number 19 and highest AP ranking at number 20. The Gamecocks finished that season 8–5 and ranked number 23 in the final AP Poll, the program’s first finish in the poll since 2013. In the 2024 Senior Bowl, Rattler was named MVP, further boosting his NFL draft stock.
Professional Highlights
In his rookie NFL season with the Saints in 2024, Rattler set a franchise record for most passing yards by a rookie quarterback with 1,317 yards. He earned his first career victory as an NFL starter in Week 5 of the 2025 season against the New York Giants, throwing for 225 yards and a touchdown.
Spencer Benson Rattler Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
While specific details about Spencer Rattler’s family background are not extensively documented in public sources, his path to football suggests a supportive environment that fostered his athletic development from a young age. His rise to national prominence as a high school quarterback and subsequent college career indicates strong family encouragement throughout his journey.
Personal Life
Rattler maintains a public profile as a professional athlete. He appeared in the Netflix documentary series QB1: Beyond the Lights, which chronicled his senior year of high school and his journey through the pressures of being a highly recruited quarterback prospect. Following his college football career at both Oklahoma and South Carolina, he transitioned to the professional ranks with the New Orleans Saints in 2024. Rattler continues to work on developing his game at the NFL level with his new team.
2025 Season Performance
Following a competition between Jake Haener and rookie Tyler Shough, Rattler was named the Saints’ starting quarterback for the 2025 season by first-year head coach Kellen Moore. In Week 2 against the San Francisco 49ers, Rattler threw for 207 yards and three touchdowns in a competitive game that ended in a 21–26 loss. In Week 5, he earned his first victory of the season and his first career win against the New York Giants, throwing for 225 yards and a touchdown.
However, the Saints struggled to a 1–7 start, and Rattler was later benched in favor of Tyler Shough as the team looked to evaluate its long-term quarterback situation. The difficult start to the 2025 season represented challenges for both Rattler and the organization as they worked to build a winning formula around their quarterback room.