Tyrann Mathieu has officially announced his retirement from the NFL after 12 seasons, ending one of the most impactful defensive careers of his generation. The news broke late Tuesday night, July 22, 2025, just as the New Orleans Saints were preparing to open training camp.

In a surprising announcement, Tyrann Mathieu said he’s retiring from the NFL after 12 seasons. Mathieu, 33, last year completed his third season with the New Orleans Saints, his hometown team. He also played for the Arizona Cardinals, but the best years of his career were spent in Kansas City.

The 2025 season would have been Mathieu's fourth with the Saints after he appeared in all 17 contests in each of the last three. He finished last season with 62 tackles, seven passes defended, three interceptions, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery and figured to be a starter once again in 2025.