Former LSU legend retires from the NFL after 12 seasons

One of college football’s most electrifying players and became one of the NFL’s most respected leaders is calling it a career.

Tyrann Mathieu, the former LSU All-American and three-time Pro Bowler, announced his retirement from the NFL today after 12 seasons. He shared the news via Instagram, capping off a career that began in Baton Rouge and included stops with the Cardinals, Texans, Chiefs, and most recently, his hometown Saints.

While Mathieu leaves behind an impressive résumé in the pros including a Super Bowl title with Kansas City in 2019, three All-Pro selections, and a reputation as one of the league’s smartest, most versatile defenders, it was his time at LSU that turned him into a national phenomenon.

In 2011, Mathieu became a household name for the LSU Tigers during one of the most dominant defensive seasons in school history. His playmaking instincts, punt return touchdowns, and ball-hawking abilities earned him the nickname “Honey Badger” homage to his fearless approach and relentless motor.

That season, he was a Heisman Trophy finalist as it was a rare feat for a defensive back, the SEC Defensive Player of the Year, and the face of an LSU team that went undefeated in the regular season and reached the BCS National Championship Game.

Though his college career ended prematurely due to off-field issues, Mathieu’s impact on LSU football  and the larger sport was undeniable. His playing style redefined what a hybrid safety could do, and his brand became one of the most marketable in college football.

Drafted in the third round by the Arizona Cardinals in 2013, Mathieu quickly showed the league what LSU fans already knew he was someone you had to know where he was on the field and became a game changer in the NFL.

He overcame a torn ACL early in his career to become a staple of some of the NFL’s best defenses. In Kansas City, he helped anchor a unit that propelled the team to multiple Super Bowl appearances, emerging as both a vocal leader and a cerebral playmaker in the secondary.

Off the field, Mathieu became known for his leadership, community work, and mentorship particularly in New Orleans, where he finished his career playing for the Saints in front of the city that raised him.

Tyrann Mathieu’s story was never perfect, and that’s part of what made it so compelling. From the heights of Tiger Stadium to the biggest stage in the NFL, he played with an edge, a fire, and a fearlessness that few could match in his era.

As the Honey Badger officially steps away from football, he leaves behind a legacy that started in purple and gold  and ends with the respect he gained from fans, peers and everyone in between.