A New Orleans Saint On the Field & Off
On Sundays every fall, the hard-hitting, playmaking safety known as the "Honey Badger" serves as a defensive leader of the New Orleans Saints. His interceptions, forced fumbles, and hard hits electrify the crowd, swinging the momentum of games as he strikes fear into opposing offenses.
What fans of the Black and Gold do not see is the New Orleans native's tireless efforts to give back to his community.
Inspired by his grandmother, affectionately known as "Big Momma," Mathieu embarked on a philanthropic quest heading into his third NFL season in 2015. He established the Tyrann Mathieu Foundation with the goal of impacting the lives of financially disadvantaged children and youth through encouragement, opportunities, and resources to achieve their dreams.
"I watched her serve," Mathieu said. "She didn't have much, but what she did have, she was always willing to give it, whether that be to strangers or family. She was the security blanket for us."
Mathieu, drafted by the Arizona Cardinals in 2013, also took a cue from his teammates Patrick Peterson and Larry Fitzgerald, who were stalwarts in the local community.
"Those guys really inspired me," Mathieu said. "I always felt like I was that kind of person: willing to serve, willing to give, and willing to help people with less than me."
Although created in Phoenix, Mathieu's foundation migrated with him as his playing career took him to Houston, Kansas City, and eventually back to his hometown of New Orleans.
Giving Back to NOLA
Ranging from football camps to Christmas celebrations, the Tyrann Mathieu Foundation organizes several events each year. While the football camps are always a huge hit, Mathieu admits the annual Tyrann's Christmas Blessing event is especially meaningful to him.
"Seeing the kids, I give them the option to pick what they want, but to see the looks on their faces because they don't really think they're going to get an iPad. That's cool, man," Mathieu said. "I've seen a lot of moms cry because they weren't able to do that for their kids. Those kinds of moments—that's why I do it."
Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, Mathieu used to host a kickball tournament. Recently, he's created a Jamboree Day, a summer event to help local kids beat the heat and burn off some energy.
"It's a mixture of football, water guns, and water balloons," Mathieu explained. "We set up in a park and let the kids run wild. The kids get really excited about that, especially in New Orleans. There's not many of those places where kids can go and be safe."
Whether it's handing out turkeys at Thanksgiving or partnering with Chase Bank to help folks pay their rent during hard times, Mathieu aspires to live out the advice he received from Fitzgerald, who told the young safety to try and see himself in people.
"It's kind of hard to do," Mathieu admitted. "We've been making money for so long that we don't necessarily remember those moments when mom or dad couldn't do it. Growing up, there were times I made an all-star team, but we didn't have enough money to pay the fee, so I couldn't play in the all-star game."
Mathieu does not want his legacy to be that of a football star. His vision is to be remembered as a pillar of the community, a man who never forgot his New Orleans roots, and someone who used his success and platform to help the next generation.
His ultimate goal for the foundation is to create a community center to benefit the city that helped mold him into the man he's become.
"I want to bring a community center to New Orleans and give these kids a safe place to grow, to learn, to be themselves, and then offer them all the things they don't have, like swimming lessons and maybe teach a kid how to operate a computer," Mathieu said. "I want that to be the space that I leave for them."
Mathieu encourages anyone looking to get involved and give back to the community to find what they're passionate about and dive right in to help.
"There's so much to do," Mathieu said. "I feel like we're behind the eight ball on so many things. There's a long list of things you can get involved with."
Mathieu's efforts have twice earned him Man of the Year honors with both the Saints and Kansas City Chiefs, making him the Saints' nominee for the NFL Walter Payton Man of the Year Award. The award is a prestigious honor that celebrates NFL players who excel on the field and demonstrate a passion for creating lasting positive impact in their communities beyond football.
For Mathieu, helping others is not another item on the professional athlete checklist to win brownie points or an award. He says it's a form of therapy and keeps him grounded and humble.
"I'm doing it because I genuinely love to do it," Mathieu explained. "Any time I work with people that have less than me or have it harder than it me, it helps you appreciate where you are. For me, it does something for my spirit any time I give back or give my time. It keeps me humble and in a space where I can continue to grow and learn from others."
With the Saints
From serving his community to playing for his hometown team, the former St. Augustine High School graduate has relished his return to New Orleans the past two seasons and has enjoyed the food that he has missed.
"I love my sister and them cooking for me and always having that home cooked meal," Mathieu said. "I love being around family. I'd been gone for 10 years, and there were a lot of things I missed: graduations, holidays, and family functions. Things that you really want to be a part of that keep your spirits up."
As he enters his third season with the Saints, Mathieu yearns to restore his beloved hometown team to its former glory. He remembers growing up, watching legendary quarterback Drew Brees sling touchdowns each week, the Saints winning, and the positive vibes it brought his younger self and the entire city of New Orleans.
"I want to be a part of a team that's able to bring that feeling back to the city," Mathieu said.
Mathieu believes this year's squad has what it takes to be a playoff team yet again, but it needs to regain the confidence it lost over the past few lackluster seasons.
"We've got a good team," Mathieu said. "It's always a matter of health—guys being healthy and being available at the right time. If we can just keep our spirits up and just keep working, I think we've got everything we need. It's a matter of staying healthy and finishing strong. I think we did a horrible job finishing games [last year]."
A New Orleanian through and through, Mathieu is the personification of his hometown: resilient in the face of adversity, hospitable to all, and inspiring to millions on the gridiron and in the community.
The next time Saints fans inevitably witness Mathieu streaking down the sideline after intercepting an opposing quarterback, remember that the Honey Badger gives far more than he ever takes.
For more information about how to get involved with the Tyrann Mathieu Foundation, visit TyrannMathieu.org.
