Saints Star Tyrann Mathieu Makes Decision On NFL Future

The New Orleans Saints are in the middle of a frustrating season, firing head coach Dennis Allen earlier this month following the team's seventh straight loss at the hands of Carolina Panthers.

The Saints aren't expected to make the playoffs this season, but they'll need to answer a lot of questions about the future over the next few months. 

Many of those questions are related to the salaries of several veteran players, as the team is currently set to enter 2025 several millions of dollars over the salary cap.

One veteran player with an uncertain future? Longtime defensive back Tyrann Mathieu.

The "Honey Badger," as he's affectionately known, is set to enter his 12th NFL season next year at the age of 33. With another big season on the way, Mathieu made it clear that he's planning to stick around.

According to sports journalist Kay Adams, Mathieu is in it for the long haul with the Saints, his hometown team.

“I wouldn’t want to play for any other team…The opportunity to be able to win for my home town..I mean, I think that kinda trumps me going anywhere else," said the veteran defensive back. "I’d rather do it for my people, down here.”

Mathieu has been with the Saints for the last two seasons, as the New Orleans native joined his home quad following stints with the Houston Texans and Kansas City Chiefs. He won a Super Bowl with the Chiefs back in the 2019 season, helping them defeat the San Francisco 49ers.

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - AUGUST 23: An exterior view of the Caesars Superdome on August 23, 2021 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

In addition to his Super Bowl title, Mathieu is a three-time All-Pro and a three-time Pro Bowler. He was named to the NFL's All-Decade team in the 2010s, joining names like Tom Brady, Adrian Peterson, Joe Thomas, J.J. Watt and Aaron Donald.

All of those players are either in or likely to enter the Hall of Fame, and Mathieu has a pretty good case to get there as well.

We'll see if that happens in the future, but for now, it seems that Mathieu has no plans to retire any time soon.

Fans can look forward to seeing him on the field next week with the Saints, as they take on the Los Angeles Rams at home following this week's late-season bye.