New Orleans Saints safety Tyrann Mathieu announced his retirement on Tuesday, just before the team’s first training camp practice. The move comes as a surprise, given that he had attended the team’s veteran minicamp earlier this week.
Mathieu, 33, has spent 12 seasons in the NFL and three years with the Saints. He will close out his career after earning numerous accolades throughout his time in the league. “As I hang up my cleats, I’m filled with gratitude for the journey that’s shaped me,” Mathieu said on social media.
A fellow former player, Patrick Peterson, expressed admiration for Mathieu, saying “What a journey it has been for the both of us! Enjoy retirement love ya!”
Mathieu’s impressive resume includes 7 forced fumbles, 8 fumble recoveries, and 11 sacks. He was also named a first-team All-Pro three times and went to three Pro Bowls.
Saints general manager Mickey Loomis praised Mathieu’s legacy, stating “He’s a legendary Louisiana player, legendary NFL player.” The Saints will miss him, but wish him all the best in his future endeavors.
Despite being dismissed from LSU before his sophomore season, Mathieu maintained a close relationship with the school and donated $1 million to the institution in 2016. He also had two punts returned for touchdowns during his time there.
Source: https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/45796969/saints-tyrann-mathieu-retires-eve-training-camp