Tyrann Mathieu
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS
| Position | College | Years in the NFL |
|---|---|---|
| Safety | Louisiana State University | 9 |
Demonstrates Excellence on The Field
Tyrann Mathieu is considered one of the top safeties in the NFL. In his first two+ seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs, he has demonstrated that by being a vocal leader in the locker room and a force on the field. Tyrann often referred to as Honey Badger, recorded a career-high six interceptions during the 2020 season, leading all safeties in the NFL. In 2020, Tyrann was nominated to his second Pro Bowl. He was also named first-team AP All-Pro as a safety and named to the PFWA All-NFL and All-AFC teams.
In his inaugural season with the club, Tyrann was an instrumental part of the Chiefs defense that helped secure the organization's first Super Bowl victory in 50 years. Tyrann was named the Chiefs 2019 Derrick Thomas Most Valuable Player. He also earned first-team AP All-Pro honors as a defensive back and second-team AP All-Pro as a safety following the 2019 season. He tallied 25 tackles, six passes defensed, two interceptions, and a sack through five December contests, helping the Chiefs hold the opposition to the fewest points in the NFL during that span and tally a perfect 5-0 record.
Demonstrates Dedication and Commitment to Community Efforts this Year
While continuing to respect the limitations created by the ongoing pandemic, Tyrann has been able to restart efforts that previously were paused out of an abundance of caution in 2020. This spring, he activated a "Tyrann's Teachers" surprise and delight initiative. Along with board members of his Tyrann Mathieu Foundation, gift baskets were hand-delivered to 32 well-deserving teachers in the Kansas City metropolitan area.
As the NFL season began, Tyrann and his Foundation were at it again for their annual "Back 2 School" shopping spree. For the second year, the "Honey Badger" and some of his teammates surprised 32 underprivileged youth (ages 6-17) from the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Kansas City for a fun night of shopping and dinner. In addition, each child received a special Nike backpack filled with all the essentials to remember the evening. Tyrann also held his annual "Tyrann's Turkeys" food distribution around Thanksgiving. He will also have his holiday-themed event in December. In both instances, deserving individuals in need in Kansas City will receive a helping hand during what can be a stressful time for those struggling to provide for their families.
Demonstrates Dedication and Commitment to Community Efforts in Years Past
Through his Tyrann Mathieu Foundation, Tyrann has been focused on serving and uplifting communities in his home state of Louisiana and in each of the cities he has played in professionally - Arizona, Houston, and Kansas City. His endeavors are tangibly noticeable in many of his signature philanthropic activations. From the distribution of school supplies at the start of the school year to taking under-served youth on a shopping spree as the fall unfolds to doling out turkeys leading into Thanksgiving to providing a special surprise dinner and gifting experience for families leading into the holidays, Tyrann and his Foundation annually are making a mark in his adopted midwestern home. Likewise, though similar efforts aimed at mentorship and uplifting the youth, Tyrann has engrained himself in his native New Orleans thanks to those examples of giving back to the same communities that reared him during his formative years.
Demonstrates Consistency in Positive Character and Models a Lifestyle of Giving Back
In March of 2020, Tyrann and his foundation joined forces with the local food bank, Harvesters, and donated 30,000 meals to families affected by COVID-19. As grocery stores struggled to replenish products and the demand for meals was at an all-time high, Tyrann felt the need to take action. His pandemic-relief efforts continued as Tyrann partnered with Kansas City's 610 Sports Radio to broadcast a virtual, day-long event to continue helping those experiencing hardship from the pandemic. The event welcomed many celebrity guests at the top of each hour to help bring awareness and raise funds. Proceeds raised from the radiothon benefited Hope House (who provides domestic violence victims with shelter & comprehensive services), ReStart (who has provided unique programming that allows this organization to act as the only homeless agency in Kansas City to support all homeless populations), and The BMA Foundation (an advocate for Children's Charities and Animal Welfare).
Some ten days following the murder of George Floyd, Tyrann and several star players from throughout the League publicly supported the Black Lives Matter movement via a social video that went viral and quickly gained support from Commissioner Roger Goodell, Chiefs Chairman and CEO Clark Hunt, and others in leadership around the League and the globe. As the season neared, he had an active voice on the team's Leadership Council as they worked with the organization to form an action plan to engage the urban core further. Tyrann and his teammates identified and provided feedback on ways to better engage three specific areas: diversity education in schools, minority-owned business support, and voter registration/activation efforts. This directly resulted in GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium serving as a voting location for 2,111 individuals, making it the largest polling site in Kansas City election history. He was also one of a few players to address the team during its RISE to Vote educational session about the importance of voting and was a voice on the team's voting PSAs, which resulted in 22.7M impressions and 1.6MM engagements.
Tyrann continued that focus on the voting initiative via his Foundation, especially in light of the upcoming general election. To celebrate National Voter Registration Day in 2020, he leveraged his celebrity to invite Kansas City residents to flex their freedom by registering to vote. Teaming with the KC Election Board, Rock the Vote, and Harvesters – The Community Food Network, Tyrann hosted a voter registration and food distribution event in the city's urban core. The event kicked off with private food distribution for 320 families, a nod to Tyrann's jersey number, 32. These families had the opportunity to register to vote, apply for a mail-in ballot, and vote early, in-person as an absentee voter.
