When the NFL trade deadline rolls around, it always stirs up a storm of rumors, speculation, and tough decisions-especially for teams struggling to find their footing. This year, the New Orleans Saints found themselves in that exact position.
With the team underperforming, the question wasn’t just who they might acquire, but who they might be willing to move on from. And while Rashid Shaheed ended up being the one sent packing, there was plenty of chatter about another big name: Alvin Kamara.
Kamara’s name floated through the trade rumor mill for weeks. But it wasn’t just the idea of him being traded that caught people’s attention-it was his reaction to the possibility.
In a now widely circulated social media post, Kamara hinted that if he were traded, he’d rather sip piña coladas on a beach than suit up for another team. Some took that as a power move, a way to pressure the Saints into keeping him.
But Kamara recently set the record straight.
Appearing on The Set, a show hosted by former teammate Terron Armstead, Kamara clarified the message behind his words-and it wasn’t about leverage.
“I saw a lot of people looking at that and saying, like, I was holding the Saints hostage by saying that if they traded me, that I would retire. Which is not at all what I was saying,” Kamara explained.
“What I was saying was the same thing that I've said my whole career. I want to be in New Orleans, right?
Period. In the simplest of forms.
I want to be in New Orleans. If I were to have to play football somewhere else, then I don’t want to play football, that's all I was saying.”
That’s not a threat. That’s a player speaking from the heart.
Kamara’s loyalty to the Saints has never really been in question, but hearing it directly from him reinforces what fans already suspected: this isn’t just a team for Kamara-it’s home. He’s not just another star running back chasing a ring wherever the wind blows.
He’s rooted. And in an era when players move around more than ever, that matters.
Let’s not forget what Kamara has meant to this franchise. He’s been a cornerstone of the Saints’ offense for years, a dynamic playmaker who’s delivered countless highlights and clutch performances. He’s one of the last remaining links to the Drew Brees era-a time when the Saints were perennial contenders and the Superdome was one of the most feared venues in football.
Kamara’s impact goes beyond just stats. He’s been the heartbeat of this team, a player who can shift momentum with a single play, whether it’s a screen pass taken 40 yards downfield or a red zone run where he refuses to go down. His versatility, vision, and balance have made him one of the most unique backs in the league.
So when he says he wants to retire a Saint, it carries weight. Not just because of what he’s done, but because of how he’s done it-with consistency, professionalism, and a deep connection to the city and the fan base.
The Saints may be in a transitional phase, trying to figure out what the next chapter looks like. But having a player like Kamara committed to the cause-through the ups and downs-gives them a foundation to build on. He’s earned the right to be considered a one-team player, and if it’s up to him, that team will be the New Orleans Saints.
And if the day ever comes when he’s no longer in black and gold? Don’t expect him in another uniform. Expect him on a beach, piña colada in hand, proud of the legacy he left behind in New Orleans.