Alvin Kamara

Alvin Mentian Kamara was born July 25, 1995, in Norcross, Georgia, to Liberian immigrant parents who had fled the civil war in their home country. His mother Adama Kamara raised him alongside his siblings, and his upbringing in the Atlanta suburbs as the son of African immigrants has become central to his public identity. Kamara has frequently discussed his family's Liberian heritage and returned multiple times to West Africa as part of charitable and cultural initiatives.

Kamara attended Norcross High School in Georgia, where he was a top running back recruit and Parade All-American. His college career was winding: he initially signed with Alabama but never played a down with the Crimson Tide, transferred to Hutchinson Community College in Kansas, and finally landed at Tennessee, where he played two seasons and showcased the pass-catching ability that would define his pro career.

The New Orleans Saints selected Kamara in the third round of the 2017 NFL Draft, and he immediately became one of the NFL's most dynamic receiving backs. He won Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2017 with a staggering yards-per-touch figure and quickly joined forces with Mark Ingram and later Latavius Murray to form one of the most effective running back committees in recent league history.

Kamara has been selected to multiple Pro Bowls and earned first-team All-Pro honors. His career résumé includes a six-touchdown Christmas Day performance in 2020 that tied the NFL single-game record and established him among the most prolific scoring running backs of the modern era. His yards-per-touch numbers have consistently ranked among the league's elite.

His combination of elusiveness in tight spaces, receiving-back route precision, and ability to produce in varied offensive systems has made him one of the most enduring star running backs of his draft class. He has been the centerpiece of the Saints' offense across a succession of quarterbacks and has remained productive well into his late twenties.

Off the field, Kamara maintains close ties to his Liberian heritage and has been active in charitable work in West Africa as well as the New Orleans community. His distinctive personal style — including his trademark gold grill and nose ring — has made him one of the most recognizable players in the NFL. He holds endorsement deals with Old Spice, Nike's Jordan Brand, and other lifestyle-focused partners. Kamara has also been a notable voice on NFLPA and player-compensation issues, advocating for running back market reform.