History of Alvin Kamara in Timeline
Alvin Kamara is a star running back for the New Orleans Saints. After playing college football at Tennessee, he was drafted by the Saints in 2017. He had an incredible rookie season, earning him the NFL Rookie of the Year award. Kamara continued his dominance, becoming a Pro Bowler in each of his first five seasons and a two-time second-team All-Pro. In a historic performance in 2020, he tied an NFL record by scoring six rushing touchdowns in a single game.
1980: NFL Rushing Record Since 1980
Since 1980, there was a notable NFL rushing record set.
1986: Herschel Walker's Milestone
In 1986, Herschel Walker achieved a significant milestone in the NFL.
1989: Chuck Webb Sets All-Purpose Yards Record
In 1989, Chuck Webb set the University of Tennessee's all-purpose yards record, a mark that stood until Alvin Kamara broke it in 2016.
July 25, 1995: Birth of Alvin Kamara
Alvin Kamara was born on July 25, 1995.
1997: Barry Sanders' Rushing Prowess
Barry Sanders displayed exceptional rushing abilities in the NFL in 1997.
2010: Jamaal Charles' Impressive Rushing Performance
In 2010, Jamaal Charles showcased an impressive rushing performance in the NFL.
2011: High School Success as a Junior
In 2011, during his junior year at Norcross High School, Alvin Kamara rushed for 1,300 yards and 17 touchdowns.
2012: High School State Championship and Accolades
In 2012, Alvin Kamara lead his high school football team to their first state championship. He rushed for 2,264 yards with 26 touchdowns, and caught 22 passes for 286 yards and five touchdowns. He was named Georgia’s Mr. Football by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Class 6A Player of the Year, and earned first-team All-State honors from the Georgia Sports Writers Association.
2012: Top Running Back Prospect
In 2012, Alvin Kamara was considered one of the top running back prospects in the nation. He was rated the No. 1 all-purpose back in the 247Composite, the No. 5 player in Georgia, and the No. 42 player nationally. Rivals.com rated Kamara as the No. 6 player in Georgia.
2013: Selection for the Under Armour All-America Game
In 2013, Alvin Kamara was selected to participate in the Under Armour All-America Game.
2014: Transfer to Hutchinson Community College and NJCAA All-American Recognition
In 2014, Alvin Kamara transferred from Alabama to Hutchinson Community College. He ran for 1,211 yards with 18 touchdowns and led the Blue Dragons with 1,469 yards of total offense and 21 touchdowns in nine games. Kamara was named NJCAA All-American and became one of the top JUCO prospects in the nation.
September 5, 2015: Tennessee Debut and Record-Breaking Performance
On September 5, 2015, Alvin Kamara made his debut for the University of Tennessee, rushing for 144 yards and two touchdowns against Bowling Green. His 144 rushing yards set a school record for most rushing yards in a debut game.
2016: Decision to Enter the NFL Draft
Following the 2016 season, Alvin Kamara decided to forgo his remaining college eligibility and enter the 2017 NFL Draft.
2016: Key Contributor for the Volunteers
In 2016, Alvin Kamara was a key contributor for the Tennessee Volunteers. He had a career-best game against Texas A&M, rushing for 127 yards and two touchdowns, and catching eight passes for 161 yards and a touchdown. He set a school record with 312 all-purpose yards in that game, breaking a mark set by Chuck Webb in 1989.
December 19, 2017: Pro Bowl Selection
On December 19, 2017, Alvin Kamara was selected to the Pro Bowl alongside teammate Mark Ingram II, marking the first time in history that two running backs from the same team received this honor in the same year.
2017: Record-Breaking Season
In 2017, Alvin Kamara had a record-breaking season, recording the first 700/700 season (rushing/receiving) by a New Orleans Saints player and the third by an NFL rookie.
2017: Drafted by the New Orleans Saints
In 2017, Alvin Kamara was drafted by the New Orleans Saints in the third round of the NFL Draft.
2017: NFC South Champions and Playoff Run
The New Orleans Saints, led by Alvin Kamara, clinched the NFC South title with an 11-5 record in 2017. They won their Wild Card Round game against the Carolina Panthers but fell short in the Divisional Round against the Minnesota Vikings.
2017: Entering the NFL Draft
In 2017, Alvin Kamara entered the NFL draft after a successful college career.
2017: NFL Debut and Rookie of the Year
In 2017, Alvin Kamara was drafted by the New Orleans Saints and was named the NFL Rookie of the Year.
2018: NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year and Pro Bowl Selection
In recognition of his outstanding performance during the 2017 NFL season, Alvin Kamara was named the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2018. He was also selected for the Pro Bowl and named to the All-Rookie Team.
2018: Breakout Season as Lead Running Back
With teammate Mark Ingram II suspended for the first four games of the 2018 season, Alvin Kamara stepped into the role of the New Orleans Saints' primary running back. He had a remarkable start to the season, leading the NFL in touchdowns and scrimmage yards after four weeks and becoming the first player in NFL history to achieve both 1,000 rushing yards and 1,000 receiving yards within his first 20 games. Despite Ingram's return, Kamara continued to excel, setting a new franchise record for most touchdowns in a single season and earning a Pro Bowl selection.
2019: Playoff Performance and Top 100 Ranking
In the 2019 NFL playoffs, Alvin Kamara contributed to the New Orleans Saints' victory against the Philadelphia Eagles in the Divisional Round, but they fell short in the NFC Championship game against the Los Angeles Rams in a controversial overtime finish. His performance throughout the season earned him a No. 14 ranking on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2019, as voted by his peers.
2020: Pro Bowl Selection and Wild Card Round Appearance
Despite battling injuries during the 2020 NFL season, Alvin Kamara showcased his resilience and talent by achieving his third Pro Bowl selection in as many professional seasons. The Saints secured a playoff berth but faced a setback in the NFC Wild Card Round, losing to the Minnesota Vikings in overtime.
2020: Record-Breaking Season and Accolades
During the 2020 season, Alvin Kamara tied the NFL record for most rushing touchdowns in a single game with six. He also became the first player in NFL history to record at least 500 rushing yards and 500 receiving yards in each of his first four seasons.
2020: Historic Six-Touchdown Game
In 2020, Alvin Kamara made history by becoming the second player in NFL history to score six rushing touchdowns in a single game, tying Ernie Nevers.
2020: Contract Extension and Notable Games
In 2020, Alvin Kamara signed a five-year contract extension with the Saints worth $75 million. He went on to have several notable games, including scoring the first ever touchdown in Allegiant Stadium and recording two touchdowns in a game against the Packers.
January 1, 2021: Placed on COVID-19 List
On January 1, 2021, Alvin Kamara was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list, forcing him to miss the last game of the regular season.
January 9, 2021: Return from COVID-19 and Playoff Performance
On January 9, 2021, Alvin Kamara was activated from the COVID-19 list. He returned for the playoffs, helping the Saints win their Wild Card game against the Chicago Bears.
February 2021: Business Venture and NASCAR Sponsorship
In February 2021, Alvin Kamara's juice and smoothie chain, Big Squeezy, sponsored NASCAR Xfinity Series driver Ryan Vargas in the Super Start Batteries 188 at Daytona International Speedway.
June 20, 2021: NASCAR Growth and Engagement Advisor
On June 20, 2021, Alvin Kamara was named the Growth and Engagement Advisor for NASCAR. His interest in the sport grew the previous year when NASCAR and its drivers participated in racial justice activism.
2021: Emergency Quarterback Role
As of 2021, Alvin Kamara has served as the New Orleans Saints' emergency quarterback.
2021: Reaching Milestones and Pro Bowl Selection
In 2021, Alvin Kamara became the fastest player in NFL history to reach 3,000 yards in both receiving and rushing. He also earned his fifth Pro Bowl nomination, making him the first player in Saints franchise history to achieve this honor in each of their first five seasons.
February 6, 2022: Arrest and Battery Charge
On February 6, 2022, following the Pro Bowl in Las Vegas, Alvin Kamara was arrested for battery resulting in substantial bodily harm after an altercation at a nightclub.
February 2022: Physical Altercation
In February 2022, Alvin Kamara was involved in a physical altercation that resulted in his suspension from the NFL.
2022: NFL Top 100 Ranking
In 2022, Alvin Kamara was ranked 51st by his fellow players on the NFL Top 100 Players list.
2022: Continued Success on the Field
Throughout the 2022 season, Alvin Kamara continued to be a key player for the Saints, recording multiple games with over 100 scrimmage yards and contributing to several victories.
August 4, 2023: Suspension for Violating Personal Conduct Policy
On August 4, 2023, the NFL suspended Alvin Kamara for three games due to his involvement in a physical altercation that occurred in February 2022.
2023: 2023 NFL Season Update
As of the 2023 NFL season, there are no further updates to provide on Alvin Kamara's career.