NEW ORLEANS — The New Orleans Saints announced Tyrann Mathieu as Saints Man of the Year, nominating him for the 2023 NFL's Walter Payton Man of the Year Award. Mathieu embodies what it means to be a New Orleans Saint, from being a great football player to a community advocate with his own nonprofit organization and partnership with Son of Saint.
This is the second time the New Orleans native has been a team nominee since 2021 as a player for the Kansas City Chiefs.
" I'll probably say I think all our goals as football players is to win a Super Bowl and I'll have to say if I'm able to, that'll probably be right up there with it," the star safety said during a podcast with the Saints.
Mathieu signed with the Saints in 2022 when he started his "Tyrann Mathieu Foundation", a nonprofit organization that impacts the lives of financially disadvantaged children and youth through encouragement, opportunities and resources to achieve their dreams in the city.
From back-to-school giveaways, and hosting Thanksgiving and Christmas events to youth camps for children in the New Orleans community, Mathieu continues to give back.
Working with the children at Son of Saint the last couple of seasons reminds Mathieu of his own childhood needing a mentor, role model and father figure. He said it's been a fun experience.
"For me, it was kind of the same, you know growing up, father was incarcerated, [I] was raised with my uncle and my aunt. A lot of ball coaches and teachers that I had, helped me out along the way, he said on the podcast.
When asked about why he gives back Mathieu said it was teammates like Larry Fitzgerald, Calais Campbell and Patrick Peterson who inspired him to do great things in the community.
"I remember my rookie year eating lunch with Larry Fitzgerald and I remember him looking at me one day telling me to just do it for the next person and so I think anytime you're able to follow good leaders, I think it's your responsibility to be one."
Mathieu said winning the award would mean a lot to him.
"It's just a commitment that I've made to myself and to a lot of the communities I've played in, just trying to be more than a player, trying my best to inspire the next group of guys."
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