Tyrann Mathieu sends clear message to Kansas City Chiefs, NFL

Kansas City Chiefs star safety Tyrann Mathieu posted a cryptic message to his team and the league ahead of the 2022 free agency period. As his contract runs out at the end of the current season, the Chiefs must make a decision about whether to lock up their defensive leader or save money to spend in other areas.

While all options appear on the table at this time, Mathieu made the result of one path very clear.

“Replacing me is easy,” Mathieu posted on Twitter. “Getting them to do the same thing I did is damn near impossible.”

While Mathieu did not receive any recognition from the NFL, the Chiefs organization voted him MVP of a team which includes some of the league’s brightest stars. A win over quarterback Patrick Mahomes, wide receiver Tyreek Hill and tight end Travis Kelce proves how valuable he has become for the defense and the team.

The standout safety who starred at LSU put together a strong year for the Chiefs this season, making 76 total tackles, three interceptions, three fumble recoveries and a sack to help lead Kansas City to the AFC championship game – where it lost to the Cincinnati Bengals.

Tyrann Mathieu on Kansas City Chiefs

Tyrann Mathieu has been with the Kansas City Chiefs for the past three seasons and he has made the message clear he would like to stay put with the organization heading into the 2022-23 campaign.

With the season in the books and Mathieu now out of contract with the Chiefs, the safety was asked after the game what his plan was heading into next season. He made it clear that he wanted to remain in Kansas City.

“I hope so,” Mathieu said, according to the Kansas City Star. “Ever since I came here, I’ve just tried to be the right kind of teammate. I’ve tried to play my part. And obviously it’s always that feeling that you could make more plays for your team, but I’m hoping it works out. I don’t have any control over that, I feel like everything that was in my control, I tried my best to handle it and to do it with a smile. I love this team, I love this locker room. It’s a lot of coaches that I have great relationships with, so I’m hoping, yeah.”

A former On3 Consensus four-star recruit out of the Class of 2010, Mathieu has tallied 213 tackles and 13 interceptions over his three seasons with the Chiefs. The 2021-22 season was his ninth in the NFL, as he was with the Arizona Cardinals from 2013-2017 and Houston Texans in 2018.