Former LSU standout Tyrann Mathieu knows full well the trials and tribulations that come with life.
The former All-Pro almost didn’t make it to the NFL after a troubled run in college. Heck, Honey Badger almost didn’t make it out of college. One of the game’s most underrated players has in the past opened up about addiction, mental health and suicide.
For Mathieu, the road to Super Bowl LIV with his Kansas City Chiefs was not a clean one. But with the high-priced safety set to appear in his first big game, Mathieu has a tremendous message.
It’s a small message, one that takes on a whole new meaning if you know Honey Badger’s backstory.
Prior to being cast aside by both the Arizona Cardinals and Houston Texans, Mathieu was an elite talent from New Orleans. He was eventually dismissed from the Tigers’ football program after multiple instances of failed drug tests.
Despite his athletic ability, Mathieu fell to the third round of the 2013 NFL Draft. Multiple teams had him off their draft boards.
Now, days removed from Super Bowl LIV in Miami, Kansas City’s star safety is one win from reaching the pinnacle of the NFL world.
It’s a story we almost assuredly need right now.