Tennessee Football legend Alvin Kamara looks to be staying with the Saints. According to a report from NewOrleans.Football insider Nick Underhill on Wednesday afternoon, Kamara and the Saints are finalizing a new deal for the five-time Pro Bowler to stay in The Big Easy.
There was uncertainly about Kamara’s status with the team as he entered the 2026 season. He was about to play out the final year of a two-year, $24.5 million deal, and the franchise had added former Jaguars running back Travis Etienne during the offseason. Although Kamara potentially looked like the odd man out heading into the season, a new deal will ensure that the Saints legend stays put in New Orleans for the foreseeable future.
Kamara is a Saint through and through. He famously told reporters last October that he would rather “go drink a piña colada somewhere” than play for another team via trade. Fortunately for both sides, and NFL fans across the nation, Kamara doesn’t look to be heading into retirement this offseason.
Kamara, a two-time NFL All Pro and the 2017 Rookie of the Year, is the Saints’ all-time leading rusher with 7,250 career rushing yards. He’s also got 4,948 receiving yards, and has found the endzone 86 times on the ground and through the air during his nine years in the league.
The former Volunteer was originally selected in the third round of the 2017 NFL Draft out of Tennessee. In addition to being the Saints’ all-time (non-kicker) points leader, Kamara holds three NFL records: Rushing touchdowns in a game (6), points scored in a game (36), and career two-point conversions (7). He’s tied with other players in all three categories, so one more in any category would give him the outright record.
Loyalty is clearly something that is important to Kamara, as shown by his nine years with the Saints and his clear desire to not play for any other NFL franchise. But it goes deeper than the NFL, too. Kamara has been an excellent ambassador for the Tennessee Volunteers’ football program over the years.
Kamara has taken frequent trips to Rocky Top for games, practices, and events over the years. In April, Tennessee Athletics announced that it had received a “large philanthropic gift” from the NFL great. UT returned the favor by giving Kamara a prominent naming opportunity inside of Neyland Stadium, which has yet to be announced.
“There are certain experiences that shape you throughout your life,” Kamara said in April. “In my heart, it was only right that I pour back into the university that gave me an opportunity when I didn’t quite know what was next. The naming recognition space that we are working on, inside Neyland Stadium, will be a representation of perseverance and faith for everyone who enters for years to come.”
As far as recent news goes, Kamara was in Knoxville last month to help facilitate the official visit for elite five-star running back target David Gabriel Georges. It was a huge flex from Tennessee during the weekend, and Kamara was ready to help.
