Tyrann Mathieu speaks on legacy in New Orleans after signing extension with Saints
Since the New Orleans Saints have spent the offseason restructuring contracts so they can get under the salary cap, everyone was waiting for the day that Tyrann Mathieu’s contract was restructured. However, Mathieu’s cap saving move came in the form of a contract extension. According to ESPN’s Katherine Terrell, the veteran safety agreed to a lower salary in 2024 in exchange for a two-year extension worth $13 million.
That ties Tyrann Mathieu to the New Orleans Saints until the 2026 offseason, giving him a serious chance to retire with New Orleans. Mathieu turns 32 this offseason, and has already played 11 years in the NFL. In 2026, he’ll be 34, coming off his 13th season. Mathieu understands that he’s relatively close to the end of his career and he made that clear after signing the extension.
He emphasized how much he loves being in New Orleans and how he would’ve taken a pay cut to remain with the team even without the extension. He said he hopes that he can ultimately retire with the Saints, but even more than that, he hopes the next few years on his contract are more successful for the Saints than the past few seasons have been.
Mathieu will certainly do his part on the field to ensure that, and he also made it clear that he’s doing his part off the field to ensure the success of New Orleans. He explained that while he’s revered for his on-field dominance, he wants to be remembered for the work he does in his New Orleans community.
Mathieu said he said he knows some people are Honey Badger fans, but he hopes people will remember him for what he did in the New Orleans community. He wants to do more work off the field and leave a lasting legacy. He said he hopes he can be remembered for that.
— Katherine Terrell (@Kat_Terrell) March 7, 2024
Tyrann Mathieu wants to be remembered for his community work in New Orleans
Mathieu has been a National sensation since his days back at LSU. That means it’ll take a lot of community work to out shine that reputation. However, Mathieu has been doing just that, immersing himself in multiple communities and making a difference. In 2021, during his time with the Kansas City Chiefs, he was nominated for Walter Payton Man of the Year— the league’s most prestigious award that recognizes players for their work away from the field.
This past season, Mathieu was the Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee for the Saints, showing that his work is consistently impactful. Now he has plans to take things up a notch. With him now set to be around in New Orleans for a few more seasons, it’ll be great to witness what he does for the city on and off the field.
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