The writing had been on the wall for Travis Etienne’s departure from the Jacksonville Jaguars, and the veteran running back took the first step towards making that happen on Monday.
Not long after the tampering period began, Etienne agreed to a four-year deal worth $52 million with the New Orleans Saints, and he’ll have the opportunity to make that deal official by signing with the team on Wednesday.
Travis Etienne had mixed feelings about leaving the Jaguars
While the running back leaving Jacksonville was expected, it’s still a bit of a sad moment — especially for Etienne and his quarterback, Trevor Lawrence. After it was reported that the running back has agreed to head to New Orleans, it was pointed out that Etienne and Lawrence, who have been teammates since 2018 at Clemson, will no longer be suiting up together.
Etienne took to social media to react to that reality, sharing a GIF of a young boy crying, despite saying he’s fine.
https://t.co/QtymeA7FqI pic.twitter.com/8rKefOr8Cm
— Travis Etienne Jr⁶𓅓 (@swaggy_t1) March 9, 2026
Travis Etienne and Trevor Lawrence end an eight-year run of being teammates
The free agent running back wasnt the only one with feelings. Lawrence also took to social media to wish his running back the best. The veteran quarterback shared a picture of the two holding their young kids, as well as a picture of them back at Clemson.
Lawrence expressed that they've come a long way, and while he's going to miss playing alongside him, he's confident the best is yet to come for Etienne.
We’ve come a long way!! Going to miss you man been a hell of an 8 year run. Best is yet to come 💪🏼🧡 @swaggy_t1 pic.twitter.com/BbW1Rcfiyl
— Trevor Lawrence (@trevorlawrence) March 9, 2026
Lawrence arrived at Clemson a year after Etienne, and the two helped lead the college to a lot of success, including a College Football Playoff national championship. They both wrapped up their college careers after the 2020 season, entering the 2021 Draft where Lawrence was selected first overall by Jacksonville, and Etienne was the 25th overall.
With the Jaguars, the two experienced highs and lows, but ultimately helped the team reach the promising era that it entered last offseason, with Liam Coen and James Gladstone coming to town.
Trevor Lawrence will stick around as the franchise quarterback for this era, but Travis Etienne will have to watch from afar as he has agreed to move on to the New Orleans Saints. It’s the end of a run, but certainly one that Lawrence and Etienne will cherish.