The New Orleans Saints introduced Terron Armstead as part of their 2026 Hall of Fame class this week, putting an official stamp on one of the most decorated offensive line careers in franchise history.
Before any of that arrived, though, Armstead nearly buckled under the weight of his first NFL camp.
Armstead was a third-round pick out of Arkansas-Pine Bluff in 2013. He said he arrived in New Orleans without any frame of reference for what the job required.
"Even coming here, getting drafted to New Orleans, I was lost. I wanted to be here, but I didn't know what that meant. I didn't know what it took to be an NFL player. I had no example. So I get here, and I'm struggling in rookie mini camp, and I'm struggling in OTAs, and Sean Payton is telling me that I might not belong here. I'm like, 'Damn, you might be right. I don't know yet.' So, I had to respond, and not only to myself, but I had to let his a** know that I do belong for sure. And for a long time," Armstead said.
Armstead and Ingram were unveiled together on Thursday as the Saints' 58th and 59th Hall of Fame inductees, a day after the team wrapped mandatory minicamp.
Armstead went on to play nine seasons in New Orleans from 2013 to 2021, making three straight Pro Bowls and earning All-Pro honors in 2018 while helping anchor an offense that reached the NFC Championship Game.
He started 93 of 97 games at left tackle for the franchise before closing his career with the Miami Dolphins.
Payton, who once doubted him, became one of his most vocal believers in later seasons, at one point saying he would not trade Armstead for any left tackle in the league.
The induction ceremony will take place at a Saints home game later this season, with an exact date still to be announced.
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