It’s no secret that at 6-6 on the year, the Kansas City Chiefs are missing something. Whether it’s luck, execution or a mix of both, an ingredient has eluded the reigning AFC champions through 13 weeks.
Could that key simply be some championship swagger? That’s a phrase now-former Chief Tyrann Mathieu coined during his successful tenure. Mathieu’s time in Kansas City directly coincided with the franchise rising from budding contender to king of the NFL.
Mathieu announced his retirement back in July, seeming to end his time as a player. Could he be open to a return to the NFL months later? His answer might surprise you.
Tyrann Mathieu Addresses Potential Chiefs Return: ‘Won’t Say No’
Appearing on a Monday episode of “Up & Adams,” host Kay Adams posed the question to Mathieu. Rather than shoot down a potential return to the Chiefs, the three-time All-Pro seemed up to for the idea.
“I mean, I’m not going to say no,” Mathieu said. “I won’t say no. I’ve stayed in contact with, obviously, Brett [Veach] but mostly coach [Andy] Reid. His grandson actually plays on the football team with my son. It’s a family, you know?”
When asked what led to an apparent change of heart, Mathieu alluded to being that missing piece.
“It’s the fact that you want to help your friends,” Mathieu said. “You want your friends to have a fighting chance. I know fans hit me up all the time on Twitter, X, and they want me to come back. Mostly, they want me to come back to just provide that energy, that attitude. I think we’re just missing a little bit of that.”
Mathieu may have only been in Kansas City for three years, but his impact was profound. The former third-round pick made first-team All-Pro honors in each of his first two seasons in town, going to the Pro Bowl in his final two campaigns. In just 47 regular-season games as a Chief, Mathieu racked up 213 tackles (8 for loss), 27 pass breakups and 13 interceptions.
He also set the tone for Steve Spagnuolo’s defense as a sure-fire leader. The heart and soul of the group seems to be itching to get back into the league. Only time will tell if that crystalizes down the stretch or into the 2026-27 campaign.
Assessing Chiefs’ Defensive Performance Entering Week 14
Although a Mathieu return sounds good in theory, it wouldn’t change much. At 33 years old, his best football days are behind him. Spagnuolo, for better or worse, is also famously stubborn regarding some personnel decisions. Asking a Hall of Fame-caliber coach to tweak his scheme and rotations for a player this late into the season is risky. Considering the pressure the Chiefs are under, it seems highly unlikely.
It doesn’t help matters that the Kansas City secondary just had perhaps its worst game of 2025. In a Thanksgiving Day loss to the Dallas Cowboys, coverage was very poor. Star cornerback Trent McDuffie got torched by wideout CeeDee Lamb. Fellow corner Jaylen Watson didn’t fare much better versus George Pickens. Slant routes, third-down plays and pass interference calls plagued the Chiefs all game long.
Safety Bryan Cook also went down with an injury. It isn’t deemed serious, however, which should keep his 2025 campaign intact. With Houston Texans receiver Nico Collins awaiting in Week 14, improvement will have to be on the horizon — and quickly.
The Kansas City defense is tough to get a true read on. On the year, it ranks 26th in turnovers and 24th in net passing yards per attempt. It’s 17th in plays per drive and 21st in yards per drive. On the other hand, it sits ninth in overall scoring and fourth in first downs allowed. According to SumerSports, Spagnuolo’s crew is 20th in EPA/play at a net 0.
The last handful of regular-season games could show Kansas City’s true colors on that side of the ball. Barring a true shock, the Chiefs will probably embark on that journey without Mathieu.
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