Trevor Lawrence recently expressed his sadness as Travis Etienne Jr. has signed with the New Orleans Saints after five seasons with the Jacksonville Jaguars. This marks the end of an eight-year partnership that began during their college days at Clemson.
Etienne agreed to a four-year contract worth $52 million with the Saints, a significant move that brings both excitement and nostalgia for Lawrence, who has shared a deep bond with Etienne throughout their football careers. Following the announcement, Lawrence took to social media to share memories of their time together, stating, “We”ve come a long way!! Going to miss you man been a hell of an 8 year run. Best is yet to come.”
The two players not only shared the field but also experienced major life events together, including becoming parents around the same time. Lawrence and his wife Marissa welcomed their daughter in January 2025, while Etienne and his partner Esmeralda had a son in the spring.
Etienne also acknowledged the end of their long partnership on Twitter, sharing a meme of a child crying with the caption “I”m fine.” This clearly illustrates the mixed emotions both players feel as they part ways after years of collaboration.
Lawrence joined Clemson in the 2018 season, which was also Etienne”s sophomore year. Their inaugural year together was quite successful, culminating in a College Football Playoff championship against Alabama. The Tigers also secured the ACC Championship, with Etienne earning MVP honors. That season, Etienne led the FBS with 24 rushing touchdowns, while Lawrence was named ACC Rookie of the Year and Etienne claimed both the ACC Player of the Year and ACC Offensive Player of the Year titles.
Both players entered the 2021 NFL Draft together, with Lawrence being the first overall pick by the Jaguars and Etienne being selected at the 25th spot. However, their NFL partnership faced challenges, as Etienne missed the entire 2021 season due to a Lisfranc injury. They did manage to play together in two postseason appearances, with the Jaguars finishing with a playoff record of 1-2 during their time on the roster.
During his four seasons in Jacksonville, Etienne participated in 66 games, rushing for a total of 3,798 yards and 25 touchdowns on 897 carries. Additionally, he caught 168 passes from Lawrence for 1,338 yards and seven touchdowns, contributing significantly to the Jaguars” offense.
