Chris Olave Nearly Walked Away-Now He's Playing the Best Football of His Career
Chris Olave just turned in the best game of his pro career, but what makes his 2025 season so remarkable isn’t just the numbers-it's the journey that nearly ended before it began.
After suffering multiple concussions, Olave revealed he seriously considered retirement this past offseason. That’s not hyperbole.
The Saints' star wideout said it plainly: *"I was only 24 years old contemplating retirement." * That kind of statement hits hard-especially from a rising star who, by all accounts, was just scratching the surface of his potential.
This wasn’t the first time Olave has opened up about the mental toll of those injuries, but the emotions ran especially deep when the Saints returned to Carolina earlier this season-the very place where his 2024 campaign ended after his second concussion of the year. That injury sidelined him for the final eight games of the season, and the anxiety of stepping back onto that same field was real.
Fast forward to now, and Olave is not just back-he’s thriving. In fact, the most impressive stat on his 2025 résumé might not be the touchdowns or receiving yards, but the fact that he’s been available every single week.
With two games left, Olave hasn’t missed a snap due to injury. If he can stay healthy through the final stretch, he’ll complete a full 17-game season for the first time in his career.
That’s a milestone that means more than most box scores can show.
A Career Year Under Kellen Moore
Olave’s resurgence isn’t happening in a vacuum. Enter Kellen Moore, whose first season as the Saints' offensive coordinator has unlocked a new level in Olave’s game. The numbers speak for themselves: he’s just 80 yards shy of a career high in receiving yards, already has a personal best in receptions, and his eight touchdown grabs are more than he’s had in any of his previous three seasons.
Last week against the Jets? That was Olave at full throttle-148 receiving yards, the most he’s ever posted in a game, plus two touchdowns in a dominant performance.
It was only the second multi-score game of his career, with the first coming earlier this season. Clearly, he’s found another gear in Moore’s offense.
What’s changed? For starters, Olave has become the focal point of the passing game.
With Rashid Shaheed traded, the downfield responsibilities shifted squarely onto Olave’s shoulders. And rather than flinch at the extra attention, he’s embraced it.
He’s always wanted to be a three-level threat-short, intermediate, and deep-and now he’s proving he can be exactly that.
A Big Decision Looms
All of this leads to one unavoidable reality: the Saints have a major decision to make this offseason. Olave is eligible for a contract extension, and he’s doing everything in his power to make that decision as difficult as possible. He’s producing at a high level, staying healthy, and showing he can be a true No. 1 receiver in a system that leans on him heavily.
For a player who was once staring down the possibility of an early exit from the game, Olave’s 2025 season is more than a comeback-it’s a statement. And if he keeps this up, it’s going to be a very expensive one for New Orleans.