Travis Etienne corrects name pronunciation after signing with New Orleans Saints

New Orleans Saints running back Travis Etienne used his introductory press conference to make an important correction that had nothing to do with football—after years of everyone mispronouncing his last name, he wants to finally be called “AY-chan,” not “ee-tee-EN.”

Setting the record straight
Etienne explained that he tried to correct coaches on the proper pronunciation during his college days but eventually gave up and went with the commonly used mispronunciation. Now, with a fresh start in New Orleans, he’s reclaiming his family name. The correct pronunciation matches that of Miami Dolphins running back De’Von Achane, though spelled differently. Etienne said he’s looking forward to announcers and fans getting it right as he begins this new chapter.

Homecoming in the Big Easy
The name revelation came as Etienne signed a four-year, $52 million deal with the Saints, bringing him back to his home state of Louisiana. The 27-year-old back is coming off a 1,107-yard, 7-touchdown 2025 season with the Jacksonville Jaguars and is expected to play a significant role alongside second-year quarterback Tyler Shough. He also joins the NFC South division where his brother, Trevor Etienne, plays for the Carolina Panthers, setting up family showdowns twice each season. Travis joked about his 1-0 record against his brother and hopes to extend that streak.

For Etienne, the Saints signing represents both a professional opportunity and a chance to start anew—with the correct pronunciation this time. The Louisiana native grew up a Saints fan and called the homecoming “more than a cherry on top—it was everything.”