Tyrann Mathieu ranked 58 on NFL top 100 list
Tyrann Mathieu’s elite skills on the field have earned him a spot on the NFL’s top-100 rankings for the second straight year. His veteran leadership on defense helped in leading the Kansas City Chiefs to a second-straight Super Bowl appearance. Mathieu comes in this season ranked at 58 which is 19 spots down from last year.
Mathieu with the Chiefs
In both years with the Chiefs, Mathieu has been named an NFL first-team All-Pro. Last year, he also made the AFC Pro Bowl team — the second Pro Bowl appearance of his career. He finished the season with 62 total tackles, 48 solos, nine pass deflections, and a career-high six interceptions. In his two years in Kansas City, he had a total of 10 interceptions and has shown a nose for the football, when healthy.
Mathieu is a defensive playmaker, but he struggled to stay on the field with injury issues early in his career. After spending his first five years in Arizona and one year in Houston the former LSU standout has found a home in Kansas City. For the Chiefs, Mathieu is to the defense what Patrick Mahomes to the offense. His fiery leadership has helped turn around Kansas city’s defense since his arrival. In 2018, the year before his arrival, the Chiefs defense ranked 24th in points allowed. In the two years that followed, they have been a top-10 defense in points allowed.
His value to the organization
The Chiefs understand the importance of Mathieu’s presence on and off the field. He has received endorsements of his leadership from prominent figures within the organization and fellow teammates. Most notably was the face of the franchise and Super Bowl MVP Patrick Mahomes has spoken in glowing fashion about his safety.
“He’s one of the best leaders I’ve ever been around,” Mahomes said of Mathieu, according to Dominique Foxworth. “The first day we were at camp, it was more than just his play on the field. It was putting people in positions like he had been in that defense for years, even though it was his first day.”
Currently, the Chiefs and Mathieu are in talks to extend the 29-year-old veteran safety. With all that Tyrann Mathieu has meant to the success of the Chiefs, it’s a no-brainer that they would want him back. And for Matthew, he has seen his most productive and consistent years playing in Kansas City. With Mathieu calling the shots on defense expect the Chiefs to continue having a well-oiled defense. And if that is the case, expect to see Mathieu on this list next year too.
(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)