Here's what Andy Reid said about Tyrann Mathieu's retirement
Chiefs react to Tyrann Mathieu news; camp notes and participation report
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – Former Chiefs safety Tyrann Mathieu recently announced his retirement from the NFL following a decorated 12-year career.
Mathieu may now be gone from the playing field, but he’s far from forgotten, especially when it comes to his time in Kansas City.
Chiefs coach Andy Reid reinforced it by kicking off his opening remarks with glowing comments on Mathieu following Thursday’s practice
“What a great career he had,” Reid said. “The game will miss him, miss his energy. Definitely an energy giver, great leader. Hopefully he gets in coaching because he’d be a heck of a coach if he decides to go that way, he’d be tremendous. We wish he and his family the best going forward here.”
Mathieu set the college football scene on fire with his knack of making game-changing plays during two seasons at LSU, earning the nickname “Honey Badger” for his tenacity.
He entered the NFL in 2013 as a third-round pick with the Arizona Cardinals (2013-17), where he garnered first-team All-Pro honors in 2015, before signing with the Houston Texans in 2018.
The Chiefs then signed Mathieu to a three-year, $42 million deal in 2019, and he anchored the backend of the defensive coverage for three seasons.
He appeared in 47 regular-season games with the Chiefs, all starts, and totaled 213 tackles, 13 interceptions, 27 passes defensed, three sacks, six quarterback hits and scored two defensive touchdowns.
Mathieu, a member of the Chiefs’ Super Bowl LIV-winning team, proved he remained one of the NFL’s elite players with two first-team All-Pro selections (2019-20) and two straight Pro Bowl selections (2020-21).
And Mathieu’s intensity was certainly felt on the Chiefs’ sidelines.
“The Honey Badger; that would be part of the legacy also,” Reid said with a smile. “He would sit on the bench there, and he’d make all kinds of funny noises.
“Not only did he have the blonde hair, but he’d be over there – (Reid paused briefly to mimic growling noise) – making all those noises. What a great kid, loved to coach him.”
The business side of football, however, took center stage during the 2022 offseason.
The Chiefs and Mathieu couldn’t come to a deal to keep the safety in Kansas City. And he departed during free agency to sign with his hometown New Orleans Saints, where Mathieu spent two seasons before announcing his retirement earlier this week.
Nevertheless, Mathieu’s left a lasting impression in his three seasons with the Chiefs.
“The legacy is great ball skills, great player, great guy, always been a team captain everywhere he’s been, including here,” Reid said. “He got a Super Bowl championship here and he was a leader on defense.”
Reid wasn’t alone in showering praise on Mathieu.
Defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, who addressed the media the day before, also took a few moments to reflect on what Mathieu meant to him and the Chiefs.
“Special, special guy,” Spagnuolo said. “I mean, we came here in 2019 – Tyrann and I together – and he was a key piece to what we were doing, started off a little rough but got better and better.
“But I love Tyrann Mathieu, I’m really excited for what he – he’ll do something great moving forward. He might end up being the president, who knows? I mean, he’s a dynamic guy, but I think he’ll stay somehow in athletics or football, that’s my guess.”
NOTABLE MENTIONS
• The Chiefs continue to roll with rookie Josh Simmons at left tackle and second-year pro Kingsley Suamataia at left guard with the first-team offense. The duo has lined up alongside center Creed Humphrey, right guard Trey Smith and Jaylon Moore, who has filled in at right tackle while Jawaan Taylor (knee) remains on the physically unable to perform list (PUP).
• For a third straight practice, the Chiefs rotated wide receiver Tyquan Thornton and rookie Jalen Royals with the first-team offense during team drills.
• Wide receiver Hollywood Brown made an athletic catch across the middle during 11-on-11 drills. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes unleashed a pass, which Brown snared out of the air with both hands while fully extended.
PARTICIPATION
Right tackle Jawaan Taylor (knee), cornerback Kristian Fulton (knee) and rookie tight end Tre Watson (groin/abdomen) did not practice, as the trio remains on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list.
