Chiefs News: Tyrann Mathieu’s influence on the defense is still felt today

NFL rosters are constantly evolving, living entities. Whether it’s due to injuries, the salary cap, or father time, they’re constantly changing. The 53-man roster a team starts the season with is never the same at the start of Week 18 – and a roster can be completely different from one season to the next.

But every now and then a player comes along who can leave a lasting impression on a team – one that lasts long after he’s moved on.

That’s the impact New Orleans Saints safety Tyrann Mathieu had on the Kansas City Chiefs while he was with the team from 2019-2021.

This was evident in the preseason when Kansas City general manager Brett Veach revealed that he and Mathieu remained friends and still text each other. That’s how Veach learned that Mathieu had agreed to the team’s acquisition of rookie defenseman Jaden Hicks in last spring’s NFL draft.

“After we finished playing one night, I was home and watched some preseason games,” Veach said. “I randomly texted Tyrann Mathieu to check in and say hello. We exchanged text messages – and he somehow ended it with, ‘And (number) 21 is a stud.'”

Remember: Veach is the man who decided to let Mathieu go when his contract expired in 2022. It’s rare in life – or business – for an employer and employee to remain friends after the employee has been fired.

But that speaks for the kind of player, person (and leader) Mathieu is. Even more than two years after his departure, his influence on the way Kansas City’s defensive backs go about their business is still evident.

“I have a special place in my heart for Tyrann,” defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo admitted Friday – before revealing what’s happening with assistant coaches Dave Merritt and David D’Alesio before practice begins.

“Usually all the DBs are on the field about 10 minutes beforehand. They do footwork; Dave is with them and Donald is with them. But that was really established with Tyrann (back then). He got these guys out of the locker room ten minutes early.

“It’s a little leadership thing. Honestly, I think he laid the foundation here – especially in the secondary – for some of the things we do (today).”

After Mathieu left, the waves of his mentorship continued through players like L’Jarius Sneed and Trent McDuffie.

“When he first came here, LJ was young,” Spagnuolo added. “I remember him learning from Tyrann – and then going (as) Tyrann, LJ taught Trent. So there’s been a mess – and I think we owe a lot to Tyrann for what he did when he was here.”

Players like defensive end Chris Jones also noticed.

“He was such a leader,” Jones told reporters Friday. “One of the best safeties in this league – and continues to play at a high level to this day; I think he beats Father Time too.

“But Tyrann has always been an exceptional leader – even after graduating from LSU. (When) you put the tape on, there is one player that always stands out – and that is Tyrann Mathieu.”

Mathieu left nothing less than a legacy in Kansas City. So when the Chiefs host the Saints on “Monday Night Football” – and you see McDuffie perfectly mimicking a receiver’s footwork and turning at just the right moment to swat away a pass – you can see Mathieu on the New Orleans sideline give preference. Even though he found a new home in the NFL, he played an enduring role in building Kansas City’s championship defense.