Tyrann Mathieu

Tyrann Mathieu's Biography

Born on May 13, 1992, Tyrann Devine Mathieu, or as he is publicly known, “The Honey Badger”, is a successful professional football safety who plays for the National Football League’s (NFL) New Orleans Saints. Before ascending to the NFL, Mathieu displayed an early propensity for the sport when he played college football for Louisiana State University’s (LSU) Tigers, where he quickly built a reputation for skillfully causing turnovers.

In his college years, Mathieu set an impressive record in the Southeastern Conference (SEC) by making 11 forced fumbles in his career. This remarkable achievement, along with his aggressive play mirroring the mammal of the same name, earned Mathieu the nickname “The Honey Badger”.

Mathieu’s talent was further recognized during his sophomore year in college. He was widely celebrated as a consensus All-American and received the prestigious Chuck Bednarik Award for being the best defensive player in college football. He also earned his place as a finalist for the Heisman Trophy.

Unfortunately, Mathieu’s time at LSU was not without some adversity. He was dismissed from the LSU football program after the season due to a violation of team rules. As a result, Mathieu spent 2012 away from football. His absence, however, was short-lived as he was drafted in the third round of the 2013 NFL draft by the Arizona Cardinals. This not only marked his return to the football field but also his reunion with his ex-college teammate Patrick Peterson in the defensive backfield.

Mathieu’s career as a rookie in the NFL was promising as he was named in the Professional Football Writers of America (PFWA) All-Rookie Team. His talent was recognized over the years with three invitations to the Pro Bowl, and he was named to the first-team All-Pro team three times. Mathieu’s football journey also includes tenure with the Houston Texans and Kansas City Chiefs, the latter awarding him a Super Bowl LIV ring.

Off the football field, Mathieu’s backstory is one of resilience and determination. A native of New Orleans, Louisiana, Mathieu attended St. Augustine High School, where he played for the football team, the St. Augustine Purple Knights. He measured an impressive 32 tackles, five interceptions, one sack, and one fumble recovery as a senior.

Raised by his grandparents in Central City, New Orleans, Mathieu had a troubled family background. He faced the absence of his biological mother for a large part of his childhood, while his natural father, Darrin Hayes, was incarcerated for murder for most of Mathieu’s life. After the death of his grandfather in 1997, Mathieu was adopted by his uncle Tyrone Mathieu and his aunt Sheila Mathieu.

Alongside football, Mathieu also excelled in track and field, representing St. Augustine High’s team. Notably, he was one of the top long jump performers in the State, with personal best leaps of 1.93 meters in the high jump and 7.29 meters in the long jump. Acknowledged as a four-star recruit by Rivals.com, Mathieu ranked as the No. 13 cornerback in the nation in 2010.

Medical mishaps could not deter Mathieu’s rise in football. Despite injuries to his thumb and his leg (where he tore his left ACL and LCL while returning a punt) in subsequent years, he participated in training camps, backed by his resilient spirit. Mathieu reiterated his disassociation with his nickname, preferring to be recognized as “Tyrann Mathieu” rather than “Honey Badger”. However, he had no qualms about accepting the nickname later in 2019 after establishing himself in his career.

Mathieu’s talent and commitment didn’t go unrewarded by the NFL. In 2016, he signed a whopping five-year, $62.5 million extension deal with the Arizona Cardinals, with $21.25 million guaranteed and a sizable signing bonus of $15.5 million.

Mathieu’s illustrious career is further testament to his never-give-up attitude, following dismissals and injuries, making him one of the more respected players in the NFL today.