Spencer Rattler

Spencer Mason Rattler was born April 15, 2000, in Phoenix, Arizona. His upbringing was shaped by his family's emphasis on athletics and education, with his father Mike Rattler — a former baseball player — central to his early development. His Arizona background and Phoenix-area youth football culture placed him on a national recruiting track from his early teens.

Rattler attended Pinnacle High School in Phoenix, where he was one of the top quarterback recruits in the country — frequently compared to past Elite 11 standouts. He signed with Oklahoma and was the starting quarterback as a redshirt freshman, drawing Heisman consideration before struggles mid-season and the emergence of Caleb Williams led to him losing the starting job. He transferred to South Carolina for his final two college seasons and reclaimed his starter identity.

The New Orleans Saints selected Rattler in the fifth round of the 2024 NFL Draft, pick 150 overall, in what represented a significant draft-stock slide from his earlier college expectations. He stepped into the starting role relatively early in his rookie season following an injury to Derek Carr, and his production has been promising if uneven.

Rattler's NFL career is still in its earliest chapter, but his combination of arm talent, creativity, and willingness to push the ball downfield has given the Saints a long-term developmental option at the quarterback position. His college trajectory — from Heisman front-runner at Oklahoma to fifth-round pick — has become a defining storyline.

His career résumé is developing, but Rattler has already demonstrated the ability to produce and compete at the NFL level. His path illustrates both the highs and lows of modern college football recruiting hype cycles.

Off the field, Rattler was famously featured on the Netflix documentary series 'QB1: Beyond the Lights' during his Pinnacle High School days — a choice that preceded the spotlight cycle that would accompany his up-and-down college career. He has maintained a quieter public profile as a professional, focusing on development. He maintains endorsement partnerships with Nike and other brands, and has supported youth football initiatives in his native Phoenix community.