As is the case with every NFL dynasty, roster turnover is inevitable. Championship-caliber teams will lose countless veterans, including fan favorites who ultimately latch on with other franchises. The Kansas City Chiefs have dealt with that reality tons of times.
With training camp arriving, one of their former stars is stepping away from the game.
Per a July 22 announcement, safety Tyrann Mathieu is retiring from the NFL. The New Orleans Saints and numerous reports confirmed Mathieu’s decision.
Tyrann Mathieu Announces Retirement in July Instagram Post
In a Tuesday post on Instagram, Mathieu thanked the game of football and everyone who helped him throughout his journey.
“As I hang up my cleats, I’m filled with gratitude as I close this chapter of my life and officially retire from the game that’s shaped me in every way,” Mathieu’s post began. “From my first snap in college to my final play in the NFL, this journey has been nothing short of a blessing. Football gave me purpose, discipline, and memories that will stay with me forever. But more than anything, it gave me a community.
“To every coach who believed in me, every teammate who battled beside me, and every fan who showed up, cheered, and rode with me through the highs and lows, thank you. You gave me strength when I needed it most, and your love carried me farther than I ever imagined. I hope I made you proud out there. Much love, always. Tyrann.”
Mathieu, a New Orleans native, was a collegiate standout at LSU. He spent his first five NFL seasons with the Arizona Cardinals, vastly outperforming his draft stock as a 2013 third-round pick. He then had a one-year cameo with the Houston Texans, later spending three years each with the Chiefs and the Saints.
An illustrious career it was. Mathieu retires as a three-time Pro Bowler and a three-time first-team All-Pro. Not only that, but he was a member of the All-Decade Team from the 2010s and rides off into the sunset as a former champion. In 12 NFL seasons, Mathieu amassed 838 tackles (45 for loss), 100 passes broken up, 36 interceptions and 11 sacks.
Mathieu played in all 17 regular-season games this past year in New Orleans. He had 62 tackles and 3 interceptions while playing over 1,000 snaps on defense.
Mathieu Helped Shape Chiefs’ Culture & Franchise Trajectory
Mathieu certainly accomplished quite a bit during his career. His Chiefs tenure, however, might rise above all else. After seeing their defense struggle for all of the 2018-19 campaign, Kansas City hired coordinator Steve Spagnuolo in an effort to right their wrongs. The signing of Mathieu in 2019 was a massive part of that process as well. He joined the organization on a three-year, $42 million contract.
In his very first year as a Chief, Mathieu was an All-Pro. He helped transform the culture and on-field performance of the defense. The cherry on top was a key playoff run en route to a Super Bowl LIV victory. Mathieu’s contributions helped lift the Chiefs past the San Francisco 49ers back in 2020.
Mathieu, dubbed the “Honey Badger,” played in over 50 combined games for Kansas City from 2019-2021. In the regular season, he had over 200 tackles with 13 interceptions and 4 fumble recoveries. His versatility and demeanor endeared him to not just his teammates and coaches, but also the fan base as a whole.
With that in the books, Mathieu officially hangs up the cleats at age 33. It’s safe to say he managed to make the most of his time in the NFL.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Former Chiefs Super Bowl Champ Shares Huge Career Announcement appeared first on Heavy Sports.