Audric Estime's New Orleans homecoming could hardly have gone better. Just days after the Cleveland Browns released him, the running back made his former team pay. He helped the New Orleans Saints secure a dramatic 23-22 overtime victory on Sunday. Claimed off waivers after Cleveland let him go on November 2, Estime immediately gave New Orleans the physical presence it needed in the backfield. He led the Saints with 72 rushing yards on 15 carries. He also scored a crucial fourth-quarter touchdown, making an emphatic first impression in his return.
After the game, Estime expressed how much it meant to be back with the Saints.
“Felt amazing to be back in New Orleans, I've said this probably 100 times since I've been here,” he told the New Orleans Football Network.
He also revealed that returning to the team was his priority once he landed on waivers.
“I called my agent to tell him like, ‘Get me back to New Orleans.’ And when they gave me the call that they claimed me, I kind of had a sense of relief, happiness, and joy.”
Estime's journey has included stops in Denver, New Orleans, Minnesota, and Cleveland. The Broncos selected him in the fifth round of the 2024 NFL Draft out of Notre Dame. He rushed for 310 yards and two touchdowns in 13 appearances. With the Saints in 2025, he totaled 198 rushing yards, 103 receiving yards, and one touchdown. He even had a 94-yard performance against Tennessee. After spending time on the Vikings' practice squad and with Cleveland in 2026, Estime has another opportunity in New Orleans. Sunday's performance suggests he intends to make the most of it.