The New Orleans Saints announced Sunday that they have agreed to terms with running back Mark Ingram on a four-year contract. The announcement was made by Saints Executive Vice President/General Manager Mickey Loomis. 

"I'm excited to continue my career in Black and Gold," Ingram said. "I'd like to thank my family, the Saints organization and my teammates. I'm glad that now we can turn our attention back to football and working hard to get better as a team with the ultimate goal of winning a championship."

Ingram, 5 feet 9, 215 pounds, just finished his fourth NFL season out of the University of Alabama. The 2009 Heisman Trophy winner and a first-round draft pick (28th overall) by the Saints in 2011, he appeared in 13 games in 2014 and carried 226 times for 964 yards (4.3 avg.) with nine touchdowns and 29 receptions for 145 yards, setting career-highs in rushing yardage, total yards from scrimmage (1,109) and rushing touchdowns. Ingram's 74.2 rushing yards per game ranked seventh in the league and he ranked 14th in rushing yards. He tied for third in the league in rushing touchdowns. His efforts for the NFL's top-ranked offense in net yards per game was a key factor in New Orleans' league ranking in rushing yards per game improving from 25th in 2013 to 13th in 2014. Ingram became the first Saint running back selected to the Pro Bowl since Deuce McAllister in 2003.

In his four-year career, Ingram has appeared in 50 career games with 21 starts and has carried 582 times for 2,426 yards (4.2 avg.) with 20 touchdowns and has also added 53 receptions for 288 yards (5.4 avg.). Ingram has led the Saints in rushing in two of his four seasons.