Tyrann Mathieu's retirement felt sudden when it was announced on the eve of training camp, but like many NFL players as they reach their mid-30s, the conversation is always somewhere in the background.
The New Orleans, LSU and NFL legend opened up on his decision this week with Kay Adams on her show, Up & Adams, and opened up on the decision.
"That’s been a conversation I've kind of had really going into the last couple seasons and I think the older I got the more challenging and harder it became to leave my kids," Mathieu said. "At first it was all cool, like, I got the weekend off. … Once you kind of begin to experience different parts of life, I think priorities shift. I think the things that meant the most to me when I was 22, they don’t really mean the most to me at 33."
Mathieu welcomed his fourth child, another daughter, during the offseason. He said his sons, 11 and 12, had mentioned to him that he might need a break from the NFL game, but the person who was the most upset is his 5-year-old daughter.
“I think gamedays for her is like a holiday," Mathieu said, laughing. "She gets to dress up and be my biggest cheerleader. She enjoys those type of environments.”
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In the end, Mathieu views his 3-year run in New Orleans as a childhood dream fulfilled, and he hopes to have given inspiration around New Orleans during that span. The team scuffled to a record of 21-30 during that span, but Mathieu started in all 51 games and pulled down 10 interceptions.
“New Orleans, man, has been really everything for me. ... I think ultimately as a youngster, you just want to make your people proud, and I was so proud to represent New Orleans everywhere I went," he said.
"When I had the opportunity to come back home, I think that was just a perfect scenario for me," Mathieu continued. "I had really achieved everything possible to achieve as a defensive player the last couple years and to have the oppotunity to come home and really just be present with my foundation and ultimately just giving these kids some inspiration and some hope. I hope I was able to provide that for them these last couple years I’ve been able to be home.”
The Saints have broken camp this week and signed veteran Julian Blackmon to rebuild their depth. The season kicks off in the Caesars Superdome on Sept. 7 against the Arizona Cardinals.