/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/60779291/492859314.jpg.0.jpg)
For quite some time the NFL has been “the” league for professional football, but in the past year two new leagues (XFL, AAF) have been announced and one of them has brought in former Saints runningback Khiry Robinson. The Alliance of American Football, set to kick off during the 2019 NFL offseason, inked Robinson to a three year deal with it’s San Antonio franchise.
We are proud to announce that Khiry Robinson @_numberthreeRB has signed a 3 year contract with the @TheAAF and will be playing in @SanAntonio @BEhrlichPA @AAFfanNetwork #priorityathletes #RemembertheAlamo pic.twitter.com/H6QCrwukTM
— Priority Athletes, LLC (@PriorityAthlets) August 9, 2018
While with New Orleans, Robinson served behind Mark Ingram as part of Sean Payton’s rotation of runningbacks from 2013-2016. He amassed 766 yards on 186 attempts and 8 touchdowns while donning the black and gold. Injuries cut his time in the NFL short, but he’s been attempting a comeback before now signing with the new league.
Robinson’s personality and playmaking ability behind Ingram are often remembered fondly by fans. The best game of his career in New Orleans was against Tampa in 2014 where he rushed for 89 yards on 21 carries and a touchdown while also reeling in a reception. The 28 year old worked out for the Saints in October of 2017, but wasn’t signed. Assuming he’s healthy there could still be enough tread left on the tires for him to play a few more years in the AAF or another league.
The head coach of the San Antonio team (team names have yet to be released) is another name Saints fans will be familiar with, Mike Riley. Riley played football for famous Alabama coach Bear Bryant and went on to coach in the Canadian Football League, various college teams and was an assistant coach with New Orleans in 2002.
San Antonio, Memphis and Birmingham all will host teams during the 2019 inaugural season for AAF, giving Louisiana football fans multiple options on who they can follow and root for. At this time, neither the AAF or XFL have announced any plans for a team in Louisiana.