Rocio Robles
There are players in the world of sports who do not mind constantly changing teams in search of new airs and new challenges. That’s clearly not the case for former Kansas City Chiefs safety Tyrann Mathieu, who was heartbroken after the team did not offer him a new contract and let him leave as a free agent.
Tyrann Mathieu came to the Chiefs in 2019 as a free agent and signed a three-year, $42 million contract. Particularly, he was a key part of the defensive unit that helped the team win the Vince Lombardi Trophy that season. In addition to that collective triumph, the New Orleans, Louisiana native was called to the Pro Bowl twice during his time in Kansas City and was also selected to the All-Pro first team twice.
Regardless of all these accomplishments, Chiefs management chose to take a different tack and cast off Tyrann Mathieu in order to sign Justin Reed this offseason; a player who left the Houston Texans as a free agent and committed to the franchise on a three-year, $31.5 million contract, including $20 million guaranteed.
Mathieu was heartbroken by this. “I was depressed. Heartbroken.” the 29-year-old safety said. “I couldn’t understand it, I just couldn’t.” “If they had offered me the contract they offered Justin Reid, certainly I would intend to negotiate,” Tyrann Mathieu said of his successor’s contract. “But if that had been the limit they had set, I probably would have taken it.”
Tyrann Mathieu’s fate up in the air
Beyond what Tyrann Mathieu has done during his time with the Kansas City Chiefs and the big name he brings with him, the truth is that it has been a quiet offseason for him so far as he tries to find a new team interested in his services. The former #32 of the Chiefs has so far been contacted by teams such as the New Orleans Saints and Philadelphia Eagles, who have shown interest in his expertise.
In the light of the Saints’ interest, the player traveled to New Orleans to contact them in person, but it appears that this was futile, since Mathieu stated that the team “doesn’t need him.”
Reports indicate that both the Philadelphia Eagles and Tyrann Mathieu held a virtual meeting on Thursday as the Eagles continue to look to reinforce the position of safety.
Regardless of how calm the outlook has been for Tyrann Mathieu since the free agent market opened a little over a month ago, the player is expected to find a team for NFL’s next season. And, who wouldn’t want to have a man who recorded 76 tackles and three interceptions in the 2021 campaign? So, it looks like it will only be a matter of time before Mathieu lands a new home.
