Mathieu, originally drafted by the Arizona Cardinals in 2013, played for the Cardinals, Houston Texans, Kansas City Chiefs, and Saints. He played 180 regular season games, accumulating 36 interceptions, 834 tackles, and 106 pass breakups. Notably, he was part of the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s 2010’s All-Decade Team.
In his three seasons with the Saints, Mathieu was a consistent starter, contributing significantly to the team’s defense with 228 tackles and 10 interceptions. His leadership and experience will be missed, as the Saints now look to players like Jordan Howden and rookie Jonas Sanker to step up in the secondary.
Mathieu’s retirement marks the end of a remarkable journey, leaving a lasting legacy in New Orleans and the NFL.