Stephen Lew-Imagn Images
By Ross Jackson
METAIRIE, La. — There are few more honest at the podium than New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara. He’s always honest, always a straight-shooter. And while he describes his first day of training camp as that of being more of an observer when it comes to his head coach Kellen Moore, it’s clear that he is excited about what’s to come for the Saints offense now that Moore is at the helm.
“Obviously with [Saquon Barkley] being the last (running back Moore worked with) and doing it, it’s exciting,” Kamara said. I try not to look too far ahead. It’s day one of camp so we’ve got to grind and it’s a lot to learn. It’s a whole new team.”
When asked if Kamara would like Barkley-level touches, he said he’d have to talk to the Philadelphia Eagles running back to see how he felt by season’s end. Barkley saw 378 touches in last year’s regular season alone. He added another 104 in the playoffs. Both totals led the NFL.
The most touches that Kamara has seen in a single regular season is 296 last year with a playoff high of just 46. That included him missing three games in the process. It wouldn’t be a big shift to see him add nearly 80 touches in a 17 game season. But for Kamara, it’s all going to be about the balance.
Alvin Kamara was asked if he would want Saquon Barkley level touches
“Ima call Saquon and ask him how he felt on Sunday after the game. But man, I think balance is important.” pic.twitter.com/NSuFtW9GmT
— NOF (@nofnetwork) July 23, 2025
Intentionality and balance seem to be two things that Kamara has keenly focused on this year. One of his favorite things about Moore has been exactly that kind deliberate attention to detail.
“It’s the way he times things up,” Kamara said of what stands out about Moore. “[There’s] a reason behind why the periods are set up the way they’re set up and why the players are set up the way they’re set up in each period. Things like that. That’s kind of what I was watching. I didn’t interact with him too much (on the first day of camp), but I was just watching him a little bit and he seems like he’s very, very confident in why and when he’s doing things.”
Despite the praise the ninth-year running back has for his new offensive-minded head coach, this is still Alvin Kamara. He will always keep it real. So, if anything rubs him the wrong way, he already made it known (jokingly) that he’ll be vocal about it.
“He’s cool for right now,” Kamara said with a smile. “If he [does] something messed up, I’ll let y’all know.”
I asked Alvin Kamara about his early impressions of Kellen Moore.
Vintage Kamara.@WWLTV pic.twitter.com/jnEzIUlFcE— Doug Mouton (@DMoutonWWL) July 23, 2025
