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Trevor Lawrence pens emotional goodbye as Travis Etienne returns to the Bayou

After eight seasons as teammates at Clemson and in Jacksonville, the legendary duo of Trevor Lawrence and Travis Etienne is finally splitting up.
ByZach Lentz|
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Former Clemson teammates Travis Etienne and Trevor Lawrence and now Jacksonville Jaguars teammates with their new jerseys during an introductory press conference Friday, April 30, 2021, in Jacksonville, Fla. (Bob Self/The Florida Times-Union)
Former Clemson teammates Travis Etienne and Trevor Lawrence and now Jacksonville Jaguars teammates with their new jerseys during an introductory press conference Friday, April 30, 2021, in Jacksonville, Fla. (Bob Self/The Florida Times-Union) | Bob Self/The Times-Union / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

For the first time in nearly a decade, the most iconic backfield duo in Clemson history will suit up in different colors.

On Monday, as the NFL’s legal tampering window opened, news broke that star running back Travis Etienne Jr. is leaving the Jacksonville Jaguars to return to his home state of Louisiana. Etienne has reportedly agreed to a four-year, $52 million deal with the New Orleans Saints, ending an eight-year run alongside quarterback Trevor Lawrence that spanned two levels of the sport.

The move marks a professional and personal "reset" for Lawrence, who took to social media to bid farewell to the man who has been by his side since they arrived at Clemson as freshmen in 2018.

'Best is Yet to Come'

"We’ve come a long way!! Going to miss you man been a hell of an 8 year run," Lawrence posted on X (formerly Twitter) alongside a photo of the duo. In a separate, more personal follow-up, Lawrence added: "Gonna miss you bro. As real as they come."

The Lawrence-Etienne partnership is the stuff of legend in the Upstate. Together, they:

  • Won three straight ACC Championships (2018-2020).
  • Made three consecutive College Football Playoff appearances.
  • Secured the 2018 National Championship in a blowout win over Alabama.

The synergy followed them to the NFL, where they spent five seasons together in Jacksonville. Most recently, they led the Jaguars to a 13-4 regular season record in 2025 and an AFC South title, though their season ended in a narrow Wild Card loss to the Buffalo Bills.

A Homecoming in the 'Big Easy'

For Etienne, the move to New Orleans is a homecoming in every sense. A native of Jennings, Louisiana, the 27-year-old was a primary target for the Saints as they looked to revitalize a ground game and find a long-term successor for Alvin Kamara.

Etienne is coming off a massive bounce-back year in 2025 under Jaguars head coach Liam Coen. His final stats in Jacksonville were a reminder of why he is considered one of the league’s premier dual-threats:

  • Rushing: 1,107 yards and 7 touchdowns on 260 carries.
  • Receiving: 36 catches for 292 yards and a career-high 6 touchdowns.
  • Total Scrimmage Yards: 1,399 (17th in the NFL).

Life After the Duo

While Etienne prepares to lead the Saints' backfield in the "Big Easy," Lawrence and the Jaguars must now look to a future without their offensive security blanket. Early reports suggest second-year back Bhayshul Tuten could see a major workload increase in 2026, though the Jaguars are expected to be active in the later stages of free agency.

For Clemson fans, seeing "No. 16" and "No. 1" on separate sidelines will take some getting used to. But as Lawrence noted in his farewell, for both players, the best may indeed be yet to come.

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