The 30-year-old Kamara, who has scored more points for the Saints than any non-kicker in history, began his career as the 2017 AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year and heads into his 10th year after rushing for 7,250 yards and 61 touchdowns, and 606 receptions in 4th, 4th (fifth) and 25 more touchdowns.
Kamara’s future — with the only team he’s ever played for and in the NFL as a whole — had been in question for some time, but those questions grew after Etienne was signed.
Second-year Saints head coach Kellen Moore initially did his best to avoid directly discussing what might be next for Kamara. He later opined that the Saints have a great situation with Kamara and Etienne both on board in the RB room, and Kamara himself talked about looking forward to another season in the Big Easy. That’s the plan now.
Kamara memorably said last season that he would “go drink a pina colada somewhere” if the Saints traded him, rather than play for another team.
Each of Kamara’s Pro Bowl selections came in the first five seasons of his career, when he was the perfect complement to quarterback Drew Brees under head coach Sean Payton. Kamara quickly became one of the elite dual threats out of the backfield.
Beginning with Kamara’s rookie year in 2017, New Orleans went to the playoffs in four straight seasons with a matching streak of NFC South titles.
Kamara, who has remarkably never had a 1,000-yard rushing season, had 1,500-plus scrimmage yards in three of his first four seasons and north of 80 catches in each of his first four campaigns.
In 2024, Kamara posted 1,493 scrimmage yards — his highest total since his 2020 All-Star performance, but to say he’s slowed down is certainly accurate. In 2025, under then-rookie head coach Moore, Kamara missed multiple games with a sprained knee. His totals of 657 scrimmage yards and one touchdown were career lows.
As the Saints look to enter a new era, the return of Kamara, along with the return of Cameron Jordan, is a sign that not all is changing in New Orleans. Not just yet though.