The New Orleans Saints pulled off the rare deal that makes both sides happy in the NFL on Thursday by negotiating a contract extension with veteran safety Tyrann Mathieu. One of their best defenders will have the opportunity to close out his career playing for his hometown team, while the Saints get some much-needed salary cap flexibility in reworking his contract.
“It is a great opportunity for me, and I am looking forward to the next two years,” Mathieu told local reporters in a conference call.
When asked if he could potentially retire with the Saints when the time comes, Mathieu responded with “Hope so,” while reiterating that his focus is on winning games and leading the team to success: “I hope and pray I can continue to be a positive influence on the young guys.”
Mathieu acknowledged that the last two years had been “underwhelming” for Saints fans, who are currently tied for the fifth-longest active playoff drought around the league. But he expressed confidence that they can get where they want to go with what he believes is a quality roster and coaching staff.
And winning with the Saints matters to him. Mathieu knows exactly how passionate the fanbase is and he hopes to make them proud. He said he would’ve taken a pay cut to stay in New Orleans and continue giving back to the community, but getting more security for his future was a welcome bonus: “I’m from here. It’s a blessing to play here.”
But giving back to the city is what he’s looking forward to most. While he’s grateful for fans of his work on the field, the opportunity to be a positive influence on young people and give back to the community is his next ambition. That’s how he sees the path to establishing a long-lasting legacy.
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