The New Orleans Saints earned their fifth win of the season with a 29-6 victory against the New York Jets on Sunday, marking the franchise’s third consecutive victory. The Saints received strong contributions across the roster, and wide receiver Chris Olave delivered one of the most impressive performances of the game.
This season, it feels like every outing for Olave has been a strong one. In the past, however, there was no guarantee he would even be on the field due to multiple concussions. That has not been an issue so far this season, but head injuries can linger, and Olave recently shared more details about what he dealt with last year.
Chris Olave Thought About Retiring Last Year
Back in Week 9 of the 2024 season, the Saints faced the Carolina Panthers in what is remembered as Dennis Allen’s final game as head coach in New Orleans. While that outcome became a major storyline, another moment proved even more significant. With seven minutes left in the first quarter, Olave absorbed a vicious hit that resulted in an apparent concussion.
It marked the latest in a troubling string of concussions for the young wide receiver, and this time, difficult conversations followed. Among fans and analysts, retirement was even floated as a possible option. While that scenario ultimately did not play out, Olave acknowledged during his postgame press conference that he did consider retirement.
“It was a tough time last year,” Olave said Sunday. “I was only 24 years old, contemplating retirement, especially with the head injuries, but I prayed about it. My fam — my close fam — was around me. They stuck by my side, and I just gave it another try, another chance. And it’s been a great year.”
“I was only 24 years old contemplating retirement,”#Saints WR Chris Olave opens up about coming back from 2024 concussions after setting career highs for single-game receptions and yards against the #Jets. pic.twitter.com/Aqls4l43AI
— NOF (@nofnetwork) December 21, 2025
As Olave explained, the concussion issues reached a point where, at just 24 years old, he had to weigh a decision typically reserved for much later in a player’s career. The possibility of retiring that young underscored how serious the situation had become.
Ultimately, Olave chose to continue playing, and he has avoided concussions since the one he suffered in Carolina. He has not missed a game this season, a stretch that has helped him surpass 1,000 receiving yards in 2025. He has also set career highs in both receptions and touchdowns.
Olave remains one of the most critical pieces of the Saints’ offense, and his health has been vital to head coach Kellen Moore’s scheme. Per PFSN’s WR Impact Metric, Olave ranks fifth in overall targets among all wide receivers this season.
In the Saints’ latest win against the Jets, Olave finished with 148 receiving yards and two touchdowns.
