‘I won’t say no’ — Former Chiefs Super Bowl champion claims he’d come out of retirement if asked, and he’s already in the building
Former Kansas City Chiefs defensive back Tyrann Mathieu says he wouldn’t turn the team down if they asked him to come out of retirement.
Former Kansas City Chiefs defensive back Tyrann Mathieu retired at the onset of the 2025 NFL season, but after 13 weeks have passed, it seems like the Super Bowl LIV champion is itching to get back on the field.
Appearing on Up & Adams, live from the Chiefs’ Hall of Honor at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, Mathieu was asked by Adams about whether he’d come out of retirement to play in Kansas City. The former Super Bowl champion said he wouldn’t rule it out if asked.
“I mean, I’m like, not going to say no,” Mathieu said with a chuckle. “I won’t say no.”
Adams quipped that they’d walk down to Brett Veach’s office after the show and make it happen, but the reality is that Mathieu has kept in touch with the Chiefs as he currently resides in Kansas City. He was even the team’s pregame drum honoree all the way back in Week 2 against the Philadelphia Eagles.
“Yeah, probably, and I’ve stayed in contact with obviously (Chiefs GM) Brett (Veach) and mostly Coach Reid,” Mathieu said. “His grandson actually plays on a football team with my son, so it’s all, it’s the family, you know?”
The spirit behind a decision to unretire would also come from the right place for Mathieu.
“Well, it’s the fact that you want to help your friends,” Mathieu said. “You want your friends to have a fighting chance. I know fans hit me up all the time on Twitter, on X, and they want me to come back, but mostly they want me to come back to just provide that energy, that attitude, so I think we’re just missing a little bit of that.”
There’s no doubt the Chiefs could use a bit of attitude on defense. They could also use the Honey Badger’s coverage prowess in the slot. The reality is that unretiring to join a team is a bit more complicated, as the Saints would have to release Mathieu from his contractual obligations. There’s also the fact that Mathieu has eyes for more than simply a return to Kansas City.
Tyrann Mathieu also says he’d come back for the Chiefs’ Week 14 opponent
Mathieu also played for the Houston Texans in 2018 before joining the Kansas City Chiefs. They’re a team that has also caught Mathieu’s attention because of the way their defense is currently playing.
“I do know this, the Texans, the way the Texans play defense? I’d come back to play for a defense like that,” Mathieu said.
“All I’m getting is that you’re ready to come back?” Adams asked.
“I mean, for the right situation, who wouldn’t? You know what I mean,” Mathieu said. “I love this game. So, I’m like…”
The reality is that a return to the NFL is probably unlikely at this stage of the dance for Mathieu, but it’s fun to think about the possibility of seeing an all-time great come back to the league for one final ride. Let’s just hope if it does happen, he chooses to fight it out with his brothers at home in Kansas City.
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