July 17, 2026, 7:01 a.m. MT
Alvin Kamara won’t be reuniting with coach Sean Payton, at least not in 2026.
Kamara, who played under Payton from 2017-2021, has agreed to restructure his contract to remain with the New Orleans Saints for at least one more season. The restructured deal could save New Orleans $5.5 million in 2026.
Before he returned to the Saints on a reworked deal, Kamara had an uncertain status, and retirement was even floated as a possibility. A potential reunion with Payton, who now coaches the Denver Broncos, probably wasn’t a realistic option, even if some fans and pundits would have liked to see it happen.
Denver re-signed J.K. Dobbins during free agency this spring before selecting Jonah Coleman during this year’s NFL draft. RJ Harvey, their second-round pick in last year’s draft, is also back, so the Broncos have a crowded backfield.
Kamara, meanwhile, will presumably rotate in behind Travis Etienne in New Orleans. In the end, both teams are probably happy with how their backfields stand going into the 2026 campaign.
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