Tyrann Mathieu

At 32 years old, Tyrann Mathieu has this physical status:

College career

Mathieu accepted an athletic scholarship to attend Louisiana State University, where he competed for coach Les Miles' LSU Tigers football team from 2010 to 2011.

Mathieu played in all 13 games with a single exception as a true freshman in 2010. He had 59 tackles, three sacks, and two interceptions during the season. After seven tackles, one tackle for loss, two tackles for loss, two blocked fumbles, one tackle for theft, one intercept, one tackle suspended, and one pass breakup, he was the Most Outstanding Defensive Player of the 2011 Cotton Bowl Classic against Texas A&M.

Mathieu had 77 total tackles (60 solo and 17 assists), 1.5 sacks, five mock fumbles, four interceptions (two returned for a touchdown), and two interceptions at the end of the 2011 regular season. Mathieu had 26 punt returns for 420 yards on special teams, with two of them returning for a touchdown. Mathieu was suspended for one game after a breach of LSU's drug policy on October 19, 2011. Mathieu was voted the Most Valuable Player of the 2011 SEC Championship Game. Mathieu earned the nickname "The Honey Badger" for his tenacious ability to play incredibly tough football against much larger rivals, his knack for making big plays, as well as his blond patch of hair on the back of his head in his college days, which resembled the blond patch of hair on the back of a honey badger's head. He was crowned Heisman Trophy champion after this experience. Mathieu was presented the Chuck Bednarik Award on December 8, 2011, which was given to the year's top defensive player in college football. Following Patrick Peterson in 2010, an LSU defensive player earned the nation's highest defensive award for the second year in a row.

Mathieu will be suspended from the football team due to a breach of team rules, according to LSU head coach Les Miles on August 10, 2012. The dismissal was due to repeated drug testing failures, according to news outlets, although Miles did not verify these findings. Mathieu had previously expressed an interest in returning to the program for the 2013 season. Mathieu resigned from LSU and began a drug rehabilitation program in Houston, Texas, on August 17, 2012. Mathieu's leave was supposed to last for the entire 2012–2013 academic year. Mathieu did not drop out and enrolled in fall semester classes on September 4, 2012. Mathieu and three other LSU students were arrested on October 25, 2012, for unlawful possession of marijuana.

Mathieu's name was announced on November 29, 2012, a month earlier. On February 26, 2013, Mathieu appeared at the 2013 NFL Scouting Combine for the first time. He had a 4.50-40-yard dash, a 34-inch vertical, and a 117-inch broad jump. Later on, he appeared at his pro day on March 27, 2013.

Professional career

Mathieu was ranked as the third best cornerback candidate in the forthcoming 2013 NFL Draft by NFL analyst Chad Reuter ahead of the 2012 season. Mathieu declared his intention to draft the 2013 NFL Draft on November 29, 2012. Mathieu participated in the NFL Combine and positional drills. Mathieu appeared at LSU's pro day on March 28, 2013 but chose to stand on his own numbers rather than only doing positional drills. By the vast majority of NFL draft analysts and scouts, he was forecast to be a second or third round pick. Mathieu was ranked as the tenth best cornerback prospect in the draft by DraftScout.com at the end of the pre-draft process.

Mathieu was selected by the Arizona Cardinals in the third round (69th overall) of the 2013 NFL Draft. Mathieu was the sixth safety drafter in 2013. Mathieu will play free safety, according to Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians, although it was widely predicted that he would play slot cornerbacks coming out of college.

Mathieu's four-year, $3.05 million deal was signed on May 23, 2013, with $817,187 as a guarantee and a signing bonus of $265,000.

Mathieu said he would refrain from any association with his name, adding that he prefers to be identified as "Tyrann Mathieu" rather than "Honey Badger." Mathieu said in a week 17 postgame interview during the 2019 season, he was content that he'd established himself and was okay with the word "Honey Badger" brand.) Mathieu tried to be the first-team nickelback and began free safety in training camp. He was fighting for a starting position at free safety against Yeremiah Bell and Rashad Johnson. Mathieu was named the backup free safety by head coach Bruce Arians for the regular season, behind Rashad Johnson. Todd Bowles, the offensive coordinator, was also named the first-team nickelback.

In the St. Louis Rams' season-opener, he made seven solo tackles and made his first career forced fumble in the team's 27-24 loss. Mathieu was his first tackle of the regular season and sparked a fumble on the St Louis Rams' tight end Jared Cook. Cook screamed a fumble before Cook advanced to the endzone for a touchdown, and the Cardinals' linebacker Karlos Dansby recovered it in the first quarter after a touchback. During a 25–21 victory over the Detroit Lions, he got his first career as a nickelback, with six solo tackles and a pass deflection. Mathieu's first career interception came after a 31–7 loss to the New Orleans Saints on September 22, 2013. In the third quarter, Mathieu intercepted a pass by quarterback Drew Brees that was originally intended for wide receiver Lance Moore. Mathieu's first appearance at free safety came after Rashad Johnson sustained an injury to his finger while reporting a punt the previous week. Mathieu led the Cardinals to a 13–10 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 4 with six solo tackles. During the Cardinals' 22–6 victory over the Carolina Panthers on October 6, 2013, he had five solo tackles and made his first career sacking. Cam Newton was suspended by Mathieu for a ten-yard loss in the second quarter. Mathieu lost the Cardinals' 30–10 victory over the St. Louis Rams on December 8, 2013, on December 8, 2013. He made one solo tackle and a pass deflection before leaving the Cardinals' 30–10 win over the St. Louis Rams with a leg injury. Mathieu later learned he tore his left ACL and LCL while returning a punt during the third quarter. Mathieu's rookie season came to an end on December 10, 2013. He played in 13 games and 11 starts during his rookie season in 2013 with 68 combined tackles (65 solo), nine pass deflections, two interceptions, a dismissal, and a forced fumble. Pro Football Focus called Mathieu to his first-team All-Pro at the slot cornerback position early this season.

Mathieu was unable to attend training camp due to his recovery. He was inactive for the Arizona Cardinals' season-opener but joined the team in Week 2. Mathieu was the backup free safety behind Rashad Johnson after his return to school by head coach Bruce Arians. During a 23-14 victory over the San Francisco 49ers, Mathieu had a season-high six combined tackles. During a 28–17 victory over the Dallas Cowboys on November 2, 2014, Mathieu had five combined tackles, a pass deflection, and made his second career interception. Mathieu was the starting free safety in Week ten and was recalled in the starting lineup over Tony Jefferson. Mathieu made three combined tackles in the Cardinals' 29-18 loss to the Atlanta Falcons on November 30, 2014, but he was forced to leave early in the third quarter due to a thumb injury. He had surgery on his thumb and was supposed to miss two games (Weeks 13–14). Mathieu finished the season with 39 total tackles (35 solo), four pass deflections, an intercept, and an interceptor, as well as a fumble bounce back in 13 games and six starts.

Todd Bowles, the defensive coordinator for the New York Jets, was fired by James Bettcher and subsequently replaced by James Bettcher. Mathieu competed against Rashad Johnson to be the starting free safety during training camp. Bruce Arians, a head coach, has officially named him the starting free safety for the regular season, as well as strong safety Deone Bucannon.

Mathieu had his first two interceptions against the San Francisco 49ers on September 27, 2015. Patrick Peterson was the first time an Arizona Cardinal had two interceptions in a game in Week 10, 2014. He had two more interceptions in 2015 before his season-ending injury, one against the Seattle Seahawks on November 15, and the 49ers against the 49ers on November 29. Mathieu tore his right ACL against the Philadelphia Eagles on December 20, causing him to miss the final two games of the regular season in comparison to the post-season. Mathieu was named to his first Pro bowl after the season and was named by the Associated Press as a first-team All-Pro safety. On the NFL Top 100 Players of 2016, he was ranked 28th by his fellow players.

The Arizona Cardinals and Mathieu agreed to a five-year, $62.5 million contract extension, which included a five-year guarantee and a signing bonus of $15.5 million. Geno Smith was intercepted by the New York Jets on October 17, his ninth interception in his career. Mathieu left the game against the Carolina Panthers in Week 8. He was ruled out from three to six weeks. He played in two of the next six games, but in both of them he did not do well. On December 23, 2016, he was placed on injured reserve.

Mathieu beat the Indianapolis Colts 16-13 on September 17, 2017, picking up Jacoby Brissett in overtime. The Cardinals were expected to win the game on a Phil Dawson field goal, thanks to their pick. Mathieu ended the 2017 season with 78 total tackles, two interceptions, one forced fumble, and one dismissal.

Mathieu was released by the Cardinals on March 14, 2018, after refusing to take a wage cut.

Mathieu signed a one-year deal with the Houston Texans worth $7 million on March 17, 2018. Mathieu had one interception, recovered a fumble, and finished with five tackles in his first game against the New England Patriots. He finished the season with 89 combined tackles, three sacks, eight passes defense, and two interceptions.

Mathieu signed a three-year, $42 million deal with the Kansas City Chiefs on March 14, 2019. Mathieu finished the 2019 season with 75 total tackles, four interceptions, 12 passes blocked, and two sacks. Mathieu won Super Bowl LIV on February 2, 2020, when the Chiefs defeated the San Francisco 49ers 31-20.

Mathieu's first defensive touchdown as a member of the Chiefs and his second in his career, and his first defensive touchdown against the New England Patriots. Mathieu intercepted two passes kicked by Drew Lock in Week 13 against the Denver Broncos on Sunday Night Football. The Chiefs' second interception of the game came late in the fourth quarter, resulting in a 22-16 victory. Mathieu's total tackles, nine passes blocked, one fumble recovery, and a career-high six interceptions stood out for the 2020 season.

Mathieu intercepted a pass throw by Baker Mayfield during the 22–17 victory in the Divisional Round of the playoffs against the Cleveland Browns. Mathieu had three tackles against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Super Bowl LV, defeating the Tampa Bay Buccaneers by 931 percent. Mathieu got into a verbal altercation with Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady and announced that Brady "called me something I will not repeat" after the game. Mathieu's tweet was later deleted. During this altercation, Brady was mic'd up, but the NFL refused to broadcast the recording.

Mathieu's result on September 1, 2021, was positive for COVID-19 and was placed on the COVID-19 reserve list. On September 11, he was activated from the COVID-19 reserve list. However, the Chiefs placed him on the inactive list for the Chiefs' week 1 match against the Cleveland Browns.

Mathieu's hometown team, the New Orleans Saints, has a three-year, $33 million contract as a result of his three-year, $33 million deal on May 4, 2022.

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