Travis Etienne Jr. is making waves off the field before he even takes a snap for the New Orleans Saints. The star running back, during his introductory press conference, clarified the pronunciation of his name-it's "A-chan," akin to the Miami Dolphins' De’Von Achane. This adjustment comes after years of mispronunciation dating back to his college days at Clemson, where he won a national title in 2018.
Etienne shared a light-hearted anecdote about his college experience, explaining how he repeatedly corrected people without success. Eventually, he resigned to the common mispronunciation, saying, “how you see it is how you say it.” His explanation even caught the attention of ESPN’s Adam Schefter, who shared it on social media.
The question now is whether his brother, Trevor Etienne of the Carolina Panthers, will follow suit or carve his own path, reminiscent of the Appice brothers in the world of rock music, who famously pronounce their last names differently.
Travis Etienne, now 27, joins the Saints on a four-year, $52 million contract after a successful stint with the Jacksonville Jaguars. His 2025 season was particularly impressive, with 1,107 rushing yards, seven touchdowns, and an additional 292 yards and six scores through the air.
In New Orleans, Etienne will don the No. 3 jersey, a change from the No. 1 he wore with the Jaguars. The Saints, coming off a 6-11 season, are eager for the boost Etienne can bring to their offense, especially with veteran Alvin Kamara entering the twilight of his career. The team is hopeful that Etienne's dynamic playmaking ability will complement their promising young quarterback, Tyler Shough, as they aim to build on a strong finish to last season.