Tyrann Mathieu and Tyler Shough didn’t exactly have a long run as teammates with the New Orleans Saints - just a brief overlap in 2025. Shough was the fresh-faced rookie quarterback trying to find his footing in the NFL, while Mathieu, the veteran safety and hometown hero, was weighing whether one more season in black and gold was in the cards.
Fast-forward six months, and Mathieu’s cleats are off - at least for now. These days, the Honey Badger is focused on fatherhood, mentoring young athletes, and diving into his new role as a podcast host with In the Bayou. But football’s never too far from the conversation, especially when his former (if only briefly) teammate is the guest.
“We joke all the time that you and I were only teammates for a couple of weeks,” Mathieu said with a laugh during Shough’s recent appearance on the show.
Shough didn’t miss a beat.
“Yeah,” he replied, grinning. “I was like, ‘Dang, bruh!’
[Mathieu] saw this white dude come in the locker and he was like, ‘I’m out!’ He said, ‘This ain’t Drew Brees, I’m out!’
I get it, bro.
“I was looking forward to playing with you, Tyrann.”
It was a lighthearted moment, but there was an undercurrent of mutual respect. And while Mathieu’s cleats may be hung up, he didn’t slam the door shut on a return.
“Hopefully, one day,” he said, leaving just enough room for the imagination to run wild.
“You’re going to come back?” Shough asked, eyes lighting up.
“Well, you never know,” Mathieu replied, chuckling.
But while Mathieu may be retired in practice, he’s still watching closely - and he’s clearly been paying attention to Shough’s rookie campaign. The first thing that stood out to him? Shough’s physical presence.
“When I first saw you, I was like, ‘Man, this dude’s 6-5, 219 - he’s built for this,’” Mathieu said.
Beyond the measurables, though, what’s impressed Mathieu most is how Shough has embraced the city. That’s no small thing in New Orleans, where football isn’t just a pastime - it’s part of the city’s heartbeat.
“From a fellow New Orleanian, we absolutely believe in you, brother,” Mathieu told him. “We believe that you have everything it takes to do this because this city needs it. You’ve won a few games now, so you know how different the city, the environment, is when the Saints win and how much the city wants and appreciates that.”
That’s high praise coming from a guy who knows what it means to wear the fleur-de-lis with pride. Mathieu’s message was clear: New Orleans is behind Shough - and maybe, just maybe, the Honey Badger isn’t done with the Saints either.
For now, though, it’s Shough’s team. And if he keeps earning the trust of the locker room - and legends like Mathieu - the Saints might just have something special brewing in the Bayou.