As the Kansas City Chiefs teeter on the edge of postseason elimination, an old hero might be ready to answer the call.
Tyrann Mathieu, the three-time All-Pro safety who retired earlier this year after a decorated 12-year career, has publicly opened the door to an NFL comeback — and he wants that return to be with the team he once led to Super Bowl glory.
“I won’t say no,” Mathieu told Kay Adams on Up & Adams Monday morning. “Coach Reid and I still talk. His grandson plays on the same team as my son. It’s family.”
The Chiefs are coming off a crushing 28–31 Thanksgiving Day loss to the Dallas Cowboys, dropping their record to 6–6. With three AFC West matchups left, Kansas City must win out — and get help — to avoid missing the playoffs for the first time since 2014. Fans and analysts alike have pointed to the team’s lack of leadership and fire on defense as a major concern.
“I know fans want me back to bring that energy, that attitude,” Mathieu added. “You want your friends to have a fighting chance, and I feel like I can still help.”
Kansas City’s defense, once ranked top 5, has fallen to 28th in third-down stops since Week 8. Veteran leader Chris Jones has been left to carry the weight alone, and the locker room clearly misses a voice like Mathieu’s — both on and off the field.
Mathieu spent three seasons with the Chiefs (2019–2021), earning two Pro Bowl nods and winning Super Bowl LIV. Known as “The Honey Badger,” he was a tone-setter who elevated teammates with his intensity and unmatched football IQ.
General manager Brett Veach has not commented on the possibility, but with Kansas City’s playoff hopes fading and Mathieu in shape, it may be time to reunite with a player who once symbolized the Chiefs’ heart and soul.
In a season full of question marks, one thing is certain: Tyrann Mathieu hasn’t closed the door. And for the Chiefs, that sliver of hope could be the spark they desperately need.
