Clyde Edwards-Helaire is staying close to home.
The Baton Rouge native and former LSU star was signed late in the season by the New Orleans Saints and appeared in the final two games. He rushed for 46 yards on 13 carries and caught three passes for 24 yards in those two games.
That was enough of a sample size for him to be brought back for the 2025 season. Saints Executive Vice President/General Manager Mickey Loomis announced that Edwards-Helaire was being signed to a one-year contract.
The 5-foot-7, 207-pound running back was a first-round draft pick of the Kansas City Chiefs in the 2020 NFL Draft.
Edwards-Helaire has appeared in 50 regular season games (32 starts), rushing for 1,891 yards (4.2 yards per carry) with 12 rushing touchdowns. The Baton Rouge native has been a reliable pass catcher hauling in 92 receptions for 789 yards with seven touchdowns.
Edwards-Helaire would be part of three Super Bowl teams for the Chiefs and was part of two Lombardi Trophy-winning teams. He rushed for 64 yards on nine carries and caught two passes for 23 yards in Super Bowl LV loss to Tampa Bay.
The former Catholic High of Baton Rouge star was on injured reserve for Kansas City’s win in Super Bowl LVI over the Philadelphia Eagles and had one carry for zero yards in the team’s Super Bowl LVII win over the San Francisco 49ers.
Edwards-Helaire was placed on the NFL’s Reserve/Non-football illness (NFI) list before Week 1, was activated on October 15, and then released on December 16. The Saints signed him to their practice squad on December 18 and then elevated him to the active roster for the final two games.
Edwards-Helaire played his best football in Louisiana.
He played for famed coach Dale Weiner at Catholic High and as a senior helped his team win the LHSAA Class 5A state championship. He was named MVP of the game after he rushed for 88 yards and one touchdown, and caught eight passes for 161 yards in a 31-28 win over Archbishop Rummel.
After two seasons splitting time in the LSU backfield, Edwards-Helaire had a career season in 2019. He would rush for 1,414 yards with 16 rushing touchdowns, 55 receptions for 453 yards and a touchdown, and 16 returns for 214 yards. He earned All-SEC first-team honors and helped LSU win the national title.
In the title game inside the Superdome against Clemson, Edwards-Helaire rushed for 110 yards on 16 carries and caught five passes for 54 yards in LSU’s 42–25 victory.
