Alvin Kamara isn’t going anywhere-and he’s made that crystal clear.
When the Saints running back’s name started popping up in trade rumors around the NFL deadline, some fans and media took notice of a cheeky social media post where Kamara joked he’d “go sip a piña colada somewhere” if he got dealt. That was enough to spark speculation that Kamara might be threatening retirement or trying to force the Saints’ hand.
But Kamara set the record straight in a recent appearance on The Set, the podcast hosted by former teammate Terron Armstead. And in true Kamara fashion, he delivered the message with both clarity and calm.
“I saw a lot of people looking at that and saying I was holding the Saints hostage by saying that if they traded me, I would retire,” Kamara said. “Which is not at all what I was saying.”
So what was he saying? Simple: he wants to be in New Orleans.
That’s it. That’s the tweet.
“I want to be in New Orleans, right? Period,” Kamara emphasized.
“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 power play. That’s a player who’s found a home and doesn’t want to leave it.
Kamara has never been the type to chase headlines or stats. He’s not angling for legacy points or trying to climb some all-time ranking.
What he values is fit-comfort, culture, and connection. And he’s found all three with the Saints.
Even as the franchise looks to reset financially and retool parts of the roster, Kamara’s presence still makes sense-both on the field and in the locker room. He’s the kind of player who doesn’t need to make noise to make an impact. His game speaks volumes, and so does his loyalty.
Kamara also addressed the idea that he somehow tried to dictate terms to Saints GM Mickey Loomis.
“It’s like, ‘Well, they went to Alvin and asked him if he wanted to be traded. And he told Mickey Loomis that if they trade him…’ I wasn’t holding anybody hostage,” Kamara said.
“At the end of the day, that entity, that team, they swing the gavel. So I’m never going to go up there and be like, ‘If you trade me, I’m going to go home.’”
Kamara knows how the business works. He’s not naïve.
But he’s also not playing games. If the Saints ever made the decision to move on, he’s not threatening a walkout-he’s just being honest.
He doesn’t want to play anywhere else.
And if you needed a reminder of just how much Kamara does things his own way, look no further than the saga of his six-touchdown cleats.
That legendary Christmas Day performance-six rushing touchdowns in a single game-is still one of the most iconic feats in NFL history. But don’t expect to see those cleats in Canton anytime soon.
Why? Because the Hall of Fame wanted the cleats... after the NFL fined him for wearing them.
“They asked me to [donate them], they don’t got them,” Kamara said with a smirk. “Why would I give them to them?”
Armstead pressed him on it: “Then they fined you.”
Kamara didn’t hold back: “They fined me, and then asked me if they could have them for the Hall of Fame. And guess what I did? I said, ‘Yeah, y’all can have them-you gotta pay me for them, though.’”
The Hall declined. Kamara declined harder.
“They said, ‘We don’t do that,’ and I said, ‘Yeah y’all do,’” he recalled. “But I’m not gonna say who they paid.
And they was like, ‘Nah, well we don’t,’ and I said, ‘Okay, well y’all can’t have them.’ Why would I do that?
Y’all fined me and now you wanna put it [on display]? No.
N-O.”
Classic Kamara-unfiltered, unbothered, and unwavering.
There’s a reason Saints fans love him. He’s not just one of the most dynamic backs in the league-he’s authentic.
He’s built for New Orleans, and New Orleans is built for him. Whether he’s breaking tackles or breaking down stories on a podcast, Kamara keeps it real.
And when his playing days are over, don’t be surprised if he steps behind a mic full time. The storytelling chops are already there.