Tyrann Mathieu long ago captured New Orleans' heart.
Thursday, the city officially gave him the key to it.
The New Orleans native who first starred at St. Augustine High, transformed into the iconic "Honey Badger" at LSU and produced a 12-year NFL career that ended with a three-year stint with the hometown Saints, was presented the key to the city by Mayor LaToya Cantrell on Thursday, and the New Orleans City Council proclaimed it Tyrann Mathieu Day.
"I don't think I can really find the words," Mathieu said. "I'm super grateful and humbled. Never really imagined that I'd have my own day in New Orleans, even a key to the city. I feel like all of those were dreams of mine that were farfetched. I feel really, really blessed right now."
Those dreams possibly seemed farthest in prior to the 2012 season at LSU, when Mathieu was dismissed from the team after he'd produced two standout seasons, one of them (2011) extraordinary enough to earn him a fifth-place finish in the Heisman Trophy voting.
His bounce back proved to be a powerful story of renaissance and resilience.
"I've had a ton of rough stretches and tough times, just different things that have really challenged me, and I've really tried my best to lean on family and friends and my community," he said. "And I just thank the people of Louisiana, the spirit – I feel like all of those things played a part in me continuing to pursue my dream and do it the right way.
"I think (the resiliency) is just growing up here in New Orleans. There's a ton of different things that impact us and I think just being able to kind of overcome that, and see your parents overcome it and people in the community overcome it – because it wasn't easy. It wasn't easy for me, it wasn't easy for most of the people here in Louisiana."
The New Orleans City Council officially declared August 21, 2025, as Tyrann Mathieu Day, honoring the Saints' safety for his outstanding football career and lasting impact on the New Orleans community. Local and state officials joined Mathieu at City Hall, where he was presented with a key to the city.
The New Orleans City Council officially declared August 21, 2025, as Tyrann Mathieu Day, honoring the Saints' safety for his outstanding football career and lasting impact on the New Orleans community.
The New Orleans City Council officially declared August 21, 2025, as Tyrann Mathieu Day, honoring the Saints' safety for his outstanding football career and lasting impact on the New Orleans community.
The New Orleans City Council officially declared August 21, 2025, as Tyrann Mathieu Day, honoring the Saints' safety for his outstanding football career and lasting impact on the New Orleans community.
The New Orleans City Council officially declared August 21, 2025, as Tyrann Mathieu Day, honoring the Saints' safety for his outstanding football career and lasting impact on the New Orleans community.
The New Orleans City Council officially declared August 21, 2025, as Tyrann Mathieu Day, honoring the Saints' safety for his outstanding football career and lasting impact on the New Orleans community.
The New Orleans City Council officially declared August 21, 2025, as Tyrann Mathieu Day, honoring the Saints' safety for his outstanding football career and lasting impact on the New Orleans community.
The New Orleans City Council officially declared August 21, 2025, as Tyrann Mathieu Day, honoring the Saints' safety for his outstanding football career and lasting impact on the New Orleans community.
The New Orleans City Council officially declared August 21, 2025, as Tyrann Mathieu Day, honoring the Saints' safety for his outstanding football career and lasting impact on the New Orleans community.
The New Orleans City Council officially declared August 21, 2025, as Tyrann Mathieu Day, honoring the Saints' safety for his outstanding football career and lasting impact on the New Orleans community.
The New Orleans City Council officially declared August 21, 2025, as Tyrann Mathieu Day, honoring the Saints' safety for his outstanding football career and lasting impact on the New Orleans community.
The New Orleans City Council officially declared August 21, 2025, as Tyrann Mathieu Day, honoring the Saints' safety for his outstanding football career and lasting impact on the New Orleans community.
The New Orleans City Council officially declared August 21, 2025, as Tyrann Mathieu Day, honoring the Saints' safety for his outstanding football career and lasting impact on the New Orleans community.
The New Orleans City Council officially declared August 21, 2025, as Tyrann Mathieu Day, honoring the Saints' safety for his outstanding football career and lasting impact on the New Orleans community.
The New Orleans City Council officially declared August 21, 2025, as Tyrann Mathieu Day, honoring the Saints' safety for his outstanding football career and lasting impact on the New Orleans community.
The New Orleans City Council officially declared August 21, 2025, as Tyrann Mathieu Day, honoring the Saints' safety for his outstanding football career and lasting impact on the New Orleans community.
The New Orleans City Council officially declared August 21, 2025, as Tyrann Mathieu Day, honoring the Saints' safety for his outstanding football career and lasting impact on the New Orleans community.
The New Orleans City Council officially declared August 21, 2025, as Tyrann Mathieu Day, honoring the Saints' safety for his outstanding football career and lasting impact on the New Orleans community.
The New Orleans City Council officially declared August 21, 2025, as Tyrann Mathieu Day, honoring the Saints' safety for his outstanding football career and lasting impact on the New Orleans community.
The New Orleans City Council officially declared August 21, 2025, as Tyrann Mathieu Day, honoring the Saints' safety for his outstanding football career and lasting impact on the New Orleans community.
The New Orleans City Council officially declared August 21, 2025, as Tyrann Mathieu Day, honoring the Saints' safety for his outstanding football career and lasting impact on the New Orleans community.
The New Orleans City Council officially declared August 21, 2025, as Tyrann Mathieu Day, honoring the Saints' safety for his outstanding football career and lasting impact on the New Orleans community.
The New Orleans City Council officially declared August 21, 2025, as Tyrann Mathieu Day, honoring the Saints' safety for his outstanding football career and lasting impact on the New Orleans community.
The New Orleans City Council officially declared August 21, 2025, as Tyrann Mathieu Day, honoring the Saints' safety for his outstanding football career and lasting impact on the New Orleans community.
The New Orleans City Council officially declared August 21, 2025, as Tyrann Mathieu Day, honoring the Saints' safety for his outstanding football career and lasting impact on the New Orleans community.
The New Orleans City Council officially declared August 21, 2025, as Tyrann Mathieu Day, honoring the Saints' safety for his outstanding football career and lasting impact on the New Orleans community.
Mathieu played for four NFL franchises – Arizona, Houston, Kansas City and the Saints – and finished his career with 36 interceptions (four returned for touchdowns), 100 passes defensed, seven forced fumbles, eight fumble recoveries, 45 tackles for loss and 180 games played, including all 51 over three seasons in New Orleans.
He was named All-Pro after three seasons (2015, '19 and '20; in 2019, he was named All-Pro at two positions, safety and defensive back) and was a three-time Pro Bowler ('15, '20 and '21), a Super Bowl champion (LIV, with the Chiefs) and a member of the NFL 2010s All-Decade Team.
But his rise to stardom began as a cornerback at St. Augustine High, and mushroomed at LSU, where he set a Southeastern Conference record with 11 career forced fumbles and as a sophomore, was a consensus All-American who won the Chuck Bednarik Award as the best defensive player in college football and became a finalist for the Heisman Trophy.
After joining the NFL, the third-round pick formed the Tyrann Mathieu Foundation and served the New Orleans community even while he played for different franchises, returning home each year to conduct his Heart of a Badger camp, among other charitable endeavors.
"I think the message is, you don't really know where life will take you," Mathieu said. "And I think it's important to treat people right, do the right thing, and just fall forward.
"I feel like there are a lot of different things that show up in your life to get you off track, get you to lose focus. But you've got to find a way to just fall forward and continue to put one foot in front of the other."
All the steps helped lead to Thursday, with a key to New Orleans.
"It's probably up there with the Super Bowl trophy and the Walter Payton Man of the Year nominees, because it's always been a passion of mine to just be a good representation to the people, especially the kids that look up to me," he said. "I feel really blessed to be in this position, and I'm definitely encouraged moving forward."
