Report: Former LSU football star Tyrann Mathieu signs lucrative deal with New Orleans Saints

Tyrann Mathieu is heading back to the bayou, and is getting paid handsomely to do so. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the New Orleans Saints and the former LSU standout have officially reached agreement on a three-year, $33 million contract, including $18 million fully guaranteed, per Schefter’s sources.

The deal is signed, and Mathieu has now found his four NFL home since entering the league in 2013. He spent his first five seasons in Arizona with the Cardinals before a one-year stint in Houston before winning a Super Bowl with the Chiefs during his three-year tenure in Kansas City.

Mathieu’s first visit in the free agency window was to New Orleans. While he did attend a zoom with the Philadelphia Eagles brass, the Saints were always the leader in Mathieu’s clubhouse, according to a separate report from Schefter.

He’ll bring his honey badger mentality back to Louisiana after coming off an impressive stretch with one of the best franchises in the NFL today and will try to replace the production left by safety Marcus Williams in free agency and safety Malcolm Jenkins‘ retirement.

Mathieu’s homecoming comes together

Tyrann Mathieu put together a strong year for the Chiefs in 2021. He made 76 total tackles, three interceptions, three fumble recoveries, and a sack. He led the defense in tackles and interceptions. As a captain, he helped lead Kansas City to the AFC championship game – where it lost to the Cincinnati Bengals.

Mathieu, who turns 30 this year, signed a three-year, $42 million deal with Kansas City in 2019.  Although he expressed interest in staying with the Chiefs, the organization had other considerations this offseason.

A former On3 Consensus four-star recruit out of the Class of 2010, Mathieu tallied 213 tackles and 13 interceptions over three seasons with the Chiefs. The 2021-22 season was his ninth in the NFL. He was with the Arizona Cardinals from 2013-2017 and Houston Texans in 2018. He was a third-round pick at No. 69 overall after an All-American career with the LSU Tigers.

Tyrann Mathieu’s return to New Orleans brings him much closer to his alma mater as well. He’s been a frequent visitor in Baton Rouge since his departure from the program. Mathieu has also put in work to help the Brian Kelly era get off on the right track.