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Tyrann Mathieu is getting for his first Super Bowl appearance when the Kansas City Chiefs take on the San Francisco 49ers on February 2. Mathieu has only been with the Chiefs for one season, yet he has already become of the team’s most respected leaders. With Chiefs Kingdom ready to watch Mathieu lead their team to their first Super Bowl victory in 50 years, here’s a look at how much the Landlord is really worth.

Kansas City Chiefs Tyrann Mathieu
Kansas City Chiefs Safety Tyrann Mathieu | Doug Murray/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Tyrann Mathieu ranks among the best in the NFL

There is an argument to be made that Mathieu is the best defensive back in the entire league. While there are cornerbacks, such as Richard Sherman, Darrelle Revis, Patrick Peterson, and Josh Norman, who have better coverage skills, Mathieu’s versatility on defense puts him in a whole different category.

Tyrann Mathieu can cover wide receivers as good as anyone, yet he can also get in the box and play more of a linebacker position when needed. This ability to play multiple positions is why Mathieu is among the most talented players in football.

According to Bleacher Report, Mathieu was graded against over 200 defensive backs in the NFL in 2015. Out of all the players in the study, Mathieu was the only one who received a rating above 18. In fact, Mathieu’s rating of 28.1 was well over 50 percent higher than the next back on the list.

It has been several years since the study, but Mathieu has proven that he is still among the elite defensive backs in the NFL.

Mathieu changes his nickname

Before signing with the Chiefs, Mathieu’s nickname was the Honey Badger. He was given the moniker in college and kept it during his time with the Cardinals and the Texans.

But when he joined the Chiefs, Tyrann Mathieu felt like a change was in order. During the offseason, Mathieu learned that his new team has fans across a multi-state region that they refer to as Chiefs Kingdom.

Prior to the start of the 2019 season, Mathieu came up with the nickname, the Landlord, after thinking about the team’s large fan base. He announced the decision on Twitter, and Chiefs fans immediately loved it.

“Kingdom Landlords,” Mathieu wrote in the post.

Mathieu has been calling himself the Landlord ever since. Given his performance this season, he has clearly earned whatever nickname he wants to call himself.

What is Tyrann Mathieu worth?

Mathieu was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals in 2013. He enjoyed a lot of successful seasons with the Cardinals, though his two ACL injuries shed some doubt on his durability.

In 2018, the Cardinals did not renew Tyrann Mathieu’s contract and he subsequently signed with the Houston Texans for $7 million. After proving that he is still an elite player, the Chiefs signed Mathieu to a massive contract last spring.

Mathieu signed a three-year contract worth $42 million with the Chiefs, putting his yearly salary around the $14 million mark. This is on par with the deal Landon Collins made with the Washington Redskins last year. Collins and the Redskins agreed to an $84 million deal over the span of eight years. 

The contract with the Chiefs was big, but with the team headed to Super Bowl LIV, Mathieu was clearly worth every penny. 

Mathieu has become a leader on defense

Although Patrick Mahomes is the leader on offense, Mathieu has become his equivalent on the defensive side of the ball.

During the first two playoff games this season, Tyrann Mathieu has set the tempo for the Chiefs on defense. He has also grown close with Mahomes, who often reminds him about being a strong leader for the rest of the team.

“Every time he came off the sideline, he looked me in my eyes and he said ‘lead … lead …. lead,’” Mathieu stated following the game against the Texans in the divisional round.

The head coach of the Chiefs, Andy Reid, also praised Mathieu’s leadership, both on and off the field. Reid admitted that Mathieu is a “unique” person and that he has fully lived up to the hype.

With only one game to go this season, let’s hope that Tyrann Mathieu can keep the Chiefs focused long enough to pull off the big win.

The Chiefs and 49ers square off in Super Bowl LIV on February 2 on Fox.

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