Chris Olave has a simple goal for his second year in the NFL: get back to winning games. The New Orleans Saints’ star receiver opened up about his tough rookie year on Richard Sherman’s podcast, sharing that he didn’t expect to suffer so many losses — it’s a new feeling for him after his teams found rare success in college and high school.
Sherman asked Olave for his goals in 2023, and he’s making it clear that he’s focused on team accomplishments.
“Man I’m just trying to win, man. Last year was tough for me. I’ve never lost that much in my life. That shit took a toll on me, I can’t,” Olave exhaled. “That don’t sit right with me. I’m just trying to be the best version of myself, help my teammates, help them be better, help us win and get to the playoffs.”
He’s not lying. Here’s how each of Olave’s teams performed previously:
- 2015: 5-6 (Eastlake High School in Chula Vista, Calif)
- 2016: 7-5 (Mission Hills in San Marcos, Calif.)
- 2017: 12-1 (Mission Hills in San Marcos, Calif.)
- 2018: 13-1 (Ohio State)
- 2019: 13-1 (Ohio State)
- 2020: 7-1 (Ohio State)
- 2021: 11-2 (Ohio State)
- 2022: 7-10 (New Orleans)
So Olave joined the Saints having only lost 17 games since he began playing varsity football, only to suffer 10 losses in his first year as a pro. Olave’s team lost nearly as many games in 2022 as he saw in total from 2021 to 2016. He never lost double-digit games in a single season before. That’s a gut punch for someone who has only experienced success on the gridiron, so of course it’s going to leave him feeling restless. He’s putting that energy to good use.
