LOOK: Former LSU star Tyrann Mathieu shows off Louisiana roots
Safety Tyrann Mathieu enters his 10th season in the NFL this year and is playing for his fourth team, but this team definitely hits a little differently and feels a lot more special. The Louisiana native will be suiting up for the New Orleans Saints this season, representing the city and state he was born in and is surely close to his heart. The New Orleans Saints Twitter account posted a picture of Mathieu posing in his new threads, along with helmets from his high school and college alma maters, St. Augustine high school and LSU.
Mathieu was a four-star prospect out of St. Augustine, where he was ranked the sixth best player in the state according to On3 Consensus, and also ran track and field for the Purple Knights.
In college, Mathieu was nicknamed the Honey Badger, for his blonde hairstyle and aggressive play style. He is one of the select few players in recent LSU history to wear the iconic No. 7 which include names like Patrick Peterson and Leonard Fournette, as he was a Heisman finalist for the Tigers. ‘Louisiana’s Son’ is coming off three-year stint with the Kansas City Chiefs where he was a pivotal player and leader in their Super Bowl LIV winning season, and he’s hoping to bring the Saints to similar success as a hometown hero.
Tyrann Mathieu describes what it means to wear Saints uniform as New Orleans native
When Tyrann Mathieu steps onto the field for the New Orleans Saints this season, it will be the realization of a lifelong goal. A native of the city, Mathieu has long fantasized about wearing the black on gold at the Superdome.
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Now he’ll no longer have to dream, as the safety signed a three-year, $33 million contract to join the Saints this offseason. Although it’s admittedly difficult for Mathieu to put into words what the opportunity means to him, he gave it his best try in a recent appearance on the Rich Eisen Show.
“I probably wouldn’t have believed it,” he said. “It’s such a big dream. Countless numbers of kids dream that dream to be able to represent their family and the state that they come from. The city that they come from. The culture. In a million years I didn’t think that was possible, but I think I’ve been on this journey for a reason the last 10 years. Just all the different experiences I’ve had, the places I’ve gone and the things I’ve done and things I’ve fell short in doing. All these things have kind of geared me up and prepared me for this moment.
“I know a lot of people are happy for me, but this is a big challenge going back home. I’m trying to play some of my best ball while also trying to impact the community in the right way. I’m looking forward to it. I know it’s gonna be a lot, but everything that I’ve been through has really helped prepare me for this.”