‘I’m filled with gratitude’: Former Kansas City Chiefs star announces retirement from NFL
Louisiana player, legendary NFL player, um. Really appreciate his time with us. He, he’s fantastic and, and, uh, I, you know, I don’t have enough good things to say about him, *** lot of good things to say about him. Um, What, you know, what *** great career and, and uh. Just wish him all the best. Yeah, I just think, you know, he’s one of those guys that just commands respect by his actions and his, his deeds. Um, he’s got great message, very thoughtful, intelligent, super smart player, um. About all the right things. Uh, you know, on the football field and, and his experiences in life and just, just, just fantastic. No, I think this just came up in the last few days, right? Yeah, I don’t, I don’t think so. I don’t think so. No, I, I, you know, I wouldn’t do that to, uh, uh, you know, especially *** player of his experience, and I mean he understands himself better than anyone, and, uh, so I, I wouldn’t do that. Yeah, we, we’ll, we’ll, you know, we’ll look and, and uh if there’s somebody available that, that um can help us, you know, we’ll do that certainly. tell you about. Yeah. Yeah, Yeah, I just, I think man there’s an excitement about having, you know, new coaching staff and *** lot of, *** lot of changes, you know, we have the quarterback uh um battle that we’re gonna uh be observing during this training camp. It just it I think that’s exciting to have, um. You know, there’s *** lot of newness about that and really excited about how the offseason went, um. Excited about Kellen and his staff and, and I’m just anxious to get going and see how it all unfolds. I Yeah. Is there something about Yeah, I, I think, you know, I think. You know Derek not playing um. You know, that that gives us *** chance to reset in terms of, you know, some of the financial repercussions that, you know, we have and um. But I, I think we’re always in the mode of we’re trying to win every game, you know, we’re not, we’re not, I don’t look at. I don’t look at it as *** rebuild even though you might say you know we we got *** lot of developing um positions of development I should say *** lot of young players that that you know we wanna develop and and uh I’m excited about that but at the same time, look, there’s always an opportunity for things to fall in place and and be successful we’re we’re gonna try to win every game. confidence that you know this roster is constructed and in *** training camp and Yeah, I think we’re gonna find out, you know, we’re gonna find out where we’re at. I know we have *** lot of talent on the team and, and, but we have *** lot of, you know, young talent that’s developing and. And um I think we have *** coaching staff that can develop young players and and. Put guys in, in the position to be successful. We’ve got, I do think we’ve got *** uh *** nice mix of veteran players that are, they can still play at *** high level and so I’m just anxious to see how it all unfolds. Well, clearly it’s *** transition because you know we’ve got, we’ve got to, you know, we have *** change of quarterback and that’s obviously the most important position on the field for any team. Um, I, you know, I think there’s so many variables that it’s kind of hard to just sit here and. Dictate them, um. I thought we we saw *** lot of good things during the offseason and yet you know that’s not, we’re not playing tackle football in the offseason, so I think these uh you know this training camp period, particularly the preseason games are gonna be really important in determining who the who the starter is. And that’ll really you expect to have and that is you and tell it sort of worked out, you know, sort of how the relationships yeah, I think, you know, that’s, that’s uh um. That, you know, that’s ongoing, but it’s been really super positive so far and, and uh look. You know who becomes the starter who’s playing that’s ***, that’s *** coaching decision. It’s always been *** coaching decision, um, but we’re gonna have our input we’re gonna have, you know, Kellum’s really good about asking, uh, *** lot of guys in the building their thoughts and, um, he’s just collecting information, you know, not just from his staff but from the personnel staff from myself and, and, um. You know, so he can make the best decision in determining who’s actually gonna end up playing. Why did we see? Yeah. Well, I think, you know, number one, I think we like the guys that we have. Um, there’s only so many reps available and Look, one of the reasons that, that, uh, you know, you bring in *** veteran guy behind is just that experience level and yet we’ve got Kellen, we’ve got Scott Tolzing, we’ve got Doug, all have, have been experienced, all are experienced NFL quarterbacks and so we have some of that built into our staff that, you know, *** lot of staffs don’t necessarily have so. Um, I don’t know. I mean, I haven’t really thought of it in terms of that I just thought about it in terms of, hey, we like these guys, we know they’re young, we know they’re inexperienced, but let’s develop what we have and, and uh um. Go from there. There’s 3 of them. Is there any is there any? give these guys *** chance to battle it out and you know we’ll go from there, however long that takes. *** Mr Yeah, I think I think that’s *** tough question to answer because you’re always wanting to, you know, have *** good defense and have *** good running game and have *** good old line and those are the things that, you know, any quarterback can benefit from, um, I think for the younger quarterback part of that is just making sure you’re going through all the steps, you know, that, that you don’t get too complicated, you don’t put too much on the plate, um. Early Um, So there, you know, there’s some things that, that certainly you do for younger quarterbacks that you wouldn’t do for the veteran game. But remember this, you know, this, this staff and this offense and the schemes that we’re gonna be doing, it’s new to everyone here. um, you know, that’s what happens when you have *** new staff, so. We’re all learning together. I Yeah, I mean, I think it was important. I was never worried that it wasn’t gonna get done on time, but look, there was some nuance in that second round and, and, uh, you know, it’s getting, it’s getting worked out and you know I, I’ll be surprised if all or or at least the majority of the 2nd rounders aren’t signed before training camp starts for uh for all of our teams. Or continue Um, Yeah, I mean, I think it was *** little bit of *** surprise. Obviously it was otherwise all the guys would have been signed, so, um, but you know, that, that’s their decision, so we just. We just, we, you know, react to, to where the round is as *** whole, but it’s it’s all, it’s all fine. It worked out. Yeah I Yeah, no, he’s he’s full go. I don’t know 5 years or so, all the 2nd round. That’s the trend, that’s where it’s going, isn’t it? Yeah. Yeah, that’s where it’s going. Yeah, they’re, they’re gonna start out on PUP but look, that, that’s, it’s been all positive. Describe Kellen Moore’s personality. We had *** bunch of videos, OTAs and minicamp just sort of laughing and smiling, talking about in the middle of practice, um. sort of Yeah, um. That’s *** good question. I hadn’t thought of it, uh, in terms of describing it, but look, he, he’s, he’s, uh, uh, look what comes across, he just loves football, right? He loves the process, he loves football, loves the game, loves everything about it, and I think one of his strengths is that he makes it fun, he makes it, he makes it, uh, he makes the process fun and, uh, um. I don’t think he take himself too seriously, but, but he’s super smart, um. He’s got *** great work ethic. He’s, he’s about being collaborative and so he’s about all the right things for sure. But you said he’s asking *** lot of people their opinions. Is that something that maybe hasn’t always been the case and I’m not saying that it’s criticism hasn’t. No, I think, I think the coaches we’ve had have all been very collaborative and, and, uh. And, and want, you know, they want other opinions, um, so I wouldn’t say that it’s different, maybe the approach is different, um. But, but, uh, you know, we’ve been fortunate in that regard. Yes. I Yeah, I I think there’s always energy when you have, you know, *** new staff and things are new and things are different, um. So I think that just comes with, you know, having, having ***, uh, *** new staff. I don’t, I mean, I would have said the same thing, you know, Dennis Allen’s first year, I certainly would say the same thing, you know, back when uh uh in ’06 when in Shaw’s first year, I think, so I think the newness brings some of that, um. And I think, I think we have *** staff that, that’s, you know, we have the entire staff, it feels like there are really *** lot of high energy guys, guys that wanna make it uh. Make the process fun for the players and. It’s it’s been really good. How does that find and excitement? Yeah, you know, I think that it’s the themes of if it’s fun and you’re together, you, you know, it’s good chemistry and, and, you know, you trust each other, you play for each other. It’s all, you know, all those themes that, that uh That successful teams, you know, talk about after, after the fact, you know that doesn’t just come naturally, you have to work at that and so. Um, That that’s what you do, you know, you make it fun, you make it enjoyable, you do it together, it doesn’t mean it’s easy, um. But you’re doing it in *** way that builds team chemistry. Yeah. Yeah, I think, I think, yeah. I, you know, I think anytime again we get right back to new staff and you’re trying to set *** culture, you know. Uh, your vision for the culture. And so, You know, part of that is, is how do you build team chemistry, you know, you do it through, through *** shared experiences, right? Um, and you want those shared experiences to be positive and I think there’s *** particular emphasis on that, uh, with Kellen and, and I think all coaches do that, but they, you know, they may approach it *** little differently. So we can just Thank you. There’s Yes Yeah the expectations for the playoffs. Not that you don’t have expectations teams like Houston *** couple of years ago. You almost kind of thought about what might has temper expectations knowing the inexperience that. Yeah, I, I, you know, I think most of the time the expectations come from outside the building, um, I think inside the building you always have this expectation of being the best team you can be, um, and the ceiling of the floor for that is really. That’s stuff that you guys in the media and fans talk about more so than what we talk about. We still have the same philosophies, the same goals, uh, inside the building, you know, our goal is to win the NFC South, work towards the Super Bowl, um. I don’t think that teams really think about expectations, they think about goals and how do we, how do we get there, um. So I don’t know that I’m answering that question, but You’re, you know, you’re asking *** question about expectations and yet I’m telling you that every team. I, you know, I, I don’t think expectations is the right word inside the building. I think it’s more about having goals and aspirations. you Next year maybe embracing what it is that 60. Yeah, I, I, I don’t believe in that. I believe you go in, uh, doing everything you can to be successful, to win every game, um. And then you deal with the the consequences of the season afterwards. Yeah, look, I also recognize we’ve got ***, you know, we’ve got *** young team here and we’ve got *** lot of developmental pieces and the most important position in the building is, is, you know, inexperience and so that’s the reality of it so we have to be, you know, we can’t, we can’t, uh, uh, you know. Um, put her head in the closet and not recognize that. We do recognize that, so. We have to be particularly good in *** lot of other areas and develop the quarterback. On some The process and the last roster. Yeah I That Yeah, I don’t, I, I don’t pay attention that’s. That’s other people, most of them unqualified, making those making those comments. Yeah. Is it be more challenging to build *** team identity you see. No, I, I think that’s what, you know, that’s what training camp and this whole offseason and training camp and, and the season, um, that’s what they’re, that’s what it’s for, you know, it, it’s not something that happens overnight. I mean, um, you know, look what Dan Campbell and Brad Holmes did in Detroit that didn’t happen overnight. It happened over the span of 33 years, um. And so, you know, inside the league, you know, we recognize that that doesn’t always happen overnight occasionally it does happen within the span of *** short time, but most of the time it takes *** while to build that. Do you embrace that do you embrace the fact that, you know what. If we’re being realistic, this is not *** one year reset. That was the word used before. It’s gonna be 2 or 3 years. Like, like, are you OK with saying that but like embracing that this is not *** 1 year reset. It’s gonna take *** couple of years to get where we want to be. Um, I think that gets back to aspirations versus expectations, right? Um. The expectations out there is that it’s gonna take *** long time, but, you know, our goals are still the same, our goals are to win every game and, and to win the NFC South and And that’s what we’re working towards, so. What you’re asking is kind of this intangible thing that. You know, you guys think about, but I don’t know that we think about it in those terms. Um Yeah quarterback’s retirement. sort of training camp, how do you feel about the depth of the secondary? Yeah, yeah, I think, look, I think part of that is, hey, are the are the younger guys that we have developing how, how quickly are they gonna develop um, I think we have the makings of *** really good offensive line, for example, we put *** lot of resources there, but there’s some development that needs to take place, you know, we have, um, young offensive tackles and we have, uh, you know, *** great center and. And, and Trevor’s moving to guard, so we, you know, we’ve got some moving pieces there, but You know, I think we believe that we’ve got *** lot of talent there and this could be *** really, really good offensive line and can, can be *** strength of our team. How long that takes, you know, we’ll see, um. You know, there’s, there’s *** lot of elements on defense that we feel the same way about, so that’s what training camps is all about, to see how quickly that comes together, um. And, and how quickly that gels, that’ll that’ll determine how successful we are. Yeah. said yes Yeah, yeah. Yeah, he’s *** huge part of that and, and that’s been really, uh, one of the really, you know, bright spots I think of this offseason is to see. Um, You know how we’ve we’ve attacked that issue um and how that’s come together and we’ll see the results, you know, as we go as we go forward, see how effective that is. We’re going to have injuries we know that, um, but hopefully we can minimize some of the things that we’ve had in the past and particularly in the soft tissue area. Yeah, it, it, look, there’s *** lot of analytical, um. Information, it’s *** lot of, *** lot of uh uh load management, *** lot of um assessment of each individual player, so it’s, it’s, it’s really. It’s *** lot of things, *** lot of variables, um. But so far it’s been really, really positive and he, and he’s had *** good history of, of effective results uh in the places that he’s been. Yeah, that, that, you know, that came about because Jonathan and we loved, you know, got an opportunity um uh to basically run his own program, um, and so, yeah. You know, we went through *** number of candidates and, and, and, uh, you know, came up with, with what we think was the best, best guy and he’s been fantastic so far. Yeah. Yeah, well, I don’t know about the timing, but, uh, everything’s been really positive for both he and Foster. you know announce his retirement. Uh, yeah. Jimmy’s fantastic and, and uh one of the really great things in the last few years was him coming back and playing for us of the year and, and uh and I just appreciate him so much and um. Uh, you know, I’m, I’m excited that he, you know. wanted to retire as *** saint, um. Excited about what the future holds for him, you know, he’s such *** talented guy, not just in football, but in all walks of, of, uh, of life and, and uh I think when you row across the Arctic Ocean or something crazy, you know. Um, not your typical offseason, uh, uh, activities, but, um, yeah, he, what *** fantastic player and *** fantastic guy he is, so looking forward to seeing him again soon. Well, you don’t need to do that, you know, his, his last team was uh was, was the Saints and, and. Um, you know, he’ll be in the Saints Hall of Fame and on the Ring of Honor at some point and all those things that come with being the great player that he was. You also Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, I, well, I think that we’ve got, you know, we’ve got some guys and I don’t, I’m not gonna name them individually, but we’ve got some young players that that have those kind of traits and they’ve got great role models, um, like Cam and DeMario and and uh uh and there’s some others as well, um, that are that can step into those roles when those guys are ready to step out of it. But I think that gets back to the, you know, when we go through the process of bringing players in. You know, going through the character going through trying to you know get guys that were captains in college and were leaders on their team and making sure that we had uh *** lot of those guys that can eventually fill that role, um, so I feel good about about that in terms of the future and. Yeah. No, I don’t. Um, No, it, that’ll, it happens in the offseason occasionally and, you know, I pick and choose my spots. Yeah. Is still Yeah, I, I think, you know, we’re, you know, scheme change, you know, getting guys that fit with what Brandon uh wants to do with the defense and identifying the traits that the guys that we have and how they’re gonna fit. You know that was important. And then, you know, availability too is important, you know, what, what’s available um. In terms of free agents, you know, what can we get in the draft. So that’s what dictates. Trying to create depth Um, There you go. Good get that’s *** good catch, um, yeah, I, you know, I think just having *** great camp, uh, seeing the young players develop, seeing how um our guys adapt to, you know, the new coaching staff and the schemes that they want to, uh, um. You know, Established with our team that that’s gonna be important and look that process has already happened in large part in the offseason but um look, I’m anxious to get started and see where you guys are. Where Now you’re everybody’s using aspirations, right? Yeah, but you know like 20, 2006. wasn’t taking those Yeah. Yeah, that’s *** good question, um. And I think you get back to chemistry, you know, do, do the guys, you know, you feel like *** group comes together with, with, you know, new players, new staff, do they, um. You know, immediately buy in, um, do you have great chemistry? Are they playing for the right reasons, you know, all those things that, you know, you catch lightning in *** bottle sometimes. We did that in ’06, right? Um. Um, And you know, teams can do that, so. That all happens during the course of the offseason and training camp, and then you have to stay healthy too. Health in our league is *** really important factor because if you can’t keep, if you can’t keep your you know your your best players on the field, then your chances of being successful quickly diminish. The reviews that’s another chapter that. You got. Like I remember the preseason, you know, and all of *** sudden. Yeah, uh, no, I think that all these guys, you know, they’re experienced, they’ve been on teams and been part of teams that have done that and they’ve been part of teams that had higher aspirations and, and went the other direction so we’ve all been part of those teams and and you just recognize that, that, uh, you know what happens uh or that what can happen and so you know we haven’t had discussions about that specifically, no. Mhm. Yeah. Yeah, look, I think, I think, you know, I, I would say the same thing to, to, you know, what happens with those players as men. We want them to play as long as they can, um. Um, And both those guys have demonstrated that they, you know, they can still play and so that’s what we’re looking, we’re looking to see it, um. What did Sean used to say, I don’t have to see it every day, but I still got to see it in training camp and so that’ll, that’s the case for every uh veteran player, you know, with every team is that you want to make sure that, that uh they can still play at *** high level. And you want to set them up for that success too, so that’s what we’ll be looking to do. What else? Say that again. Um, let me reserve my comments on the gold uniforms that I see him on our players. Yeah, there he is. I mean, I, I think that there’s, yeah, I, I think there is, you know, something different, um. But I love our, I mean, I love our traditional uniforms so much that, that um. Yeah, I I I like all of it. Every once in *** while there’s something that I, you know, we’ll see and uh I don’t like that, but for the most part, I like all of it. All right. Yeah. No questions about California. Are you excited to go to California? Uh Yes, expectations for.
‘I’m filled with gratitude’: Former Kansas City Chiefs star announces retirement from NFL
Updated: 3:28 PM CDT Jul 22, 2025
A former Kansas City Chiefs safety and longtime player is closing his NFL chapter. Video above: New Orleans Saints GM speaks after Tyrann Mathieu retirement Tyrann Mathieu, who played with the Chiefs from 2019-21, posted on social media Tuesday that he is retiring from football. “As I hang up my cleats, I’m filled with gratitude as I close this chapter of my life and officially retire from the game that’s shaped me in every way,” he said. Mathieu, also known by fans as “The Honey Badger,” got his NFL start with the Arizona Cardinals in 2013. He stayed with the Cardinals until 2017. In 2018, he played for the Houston Texans. From 2019-21, Mathieu was a part of the Kansas City Chiefs. A member of the Super Bowl LIV winning team, Mathieu made his mark on the organization. Mathieu was twice awarded the Derrick Thomas Award, which recognizes the team’s most valuable player. He was also a three-time Pro Bowler, twice while with the Chiefs. Following the 2021 season, the Chiefs did not re-sign Mathieu, leading him to the New Orleans Saints, where he stayed until his retirement in 2025. Mathieu shared his appreciation for everyone who made an impact on him throughout his 12 years in the NFL. “To every coach who believed in me, every teammate who battled beside me, and every fan who showed up, cheered, and rode with me through the highs and lows, thank you,” he said on social media. “You gave me strength when I needed it most, and your love carried me farther than I ever imagined. “I hope I made you proud out there. This isn’t goodbye — it’s just the next chapter.”
A former Kansas City Chiefs safety and longtime player is closing his NFL chapter.
Video above: New Orleans Saints GM speaks after Tyrann Mathieu retirement
Tyrann Mathieu, who played with the Chiefs from 2019-21, posted on social media Tuesday that he is retiring from football.
“As I hang up my cleats, I’m filled with gratitude as I close this chapter of my life and officially retire from the game that’s shaped me in every way,” he said.
Mathieu, also known by fans as “The Honey Badger,” got his NFL start with the Arizona Cardinals in 2013. He stayed with the Cardinals until 2017. In 2018, he played for the Houston Texans.
From 2019-21, Mathieu was a part of the Kansas City Chiefs. A member of the Super Bowl LIV winning team, Mathieu made his mark on the organization. Mathieu was twice awarded the Derrick Thomas Award, which recognizes the team’s most valuable player. He was also a three-time Pro Bowler, twice while with the Chiefs.
Following the 2021 season, the Chiefs did not re-sign Mathieu, leading him to the New Orleans Saints, where he stayed until his retirement in 2025.
David Eulitt
Steve Spagnuolo, defensive coordinator of the Kansas City Chiefs greets former Chiefs player Tyrann Mathieu #32 of the New Orleans Saints following the 26-13 win by the Chiefs at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on October 7, 2024 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by David Eulitt/Getty Images)
Mathieu shared his appreciation for everyone who made an impact on him throughout his 12 years in the NFL.
“To every coach who believed in me, every teammate who battled beside me, and every fan who showed up, cheered, and rode with me through the highs and lows, thank you,” he said on social media. “You gave me strength when I needed it most, and your love carried me farther than I ever imagined.
“I hope I made you proud out there. This isn’t goodbye — it’s just the next chapter.”