Tyrann Mathieu says New Orleans Saints 'the place I've always wanted to be'

METAIRIE, La. — This homecoming was worth the wait for Tyrann Mathieu.

Not just the past several weeks of free agency, when the three-time first-team All Pro was holding out hope for what he called a «perfect» fit with his hometown New Orleans Saints. But the 10th-year veteran insisted Wednesday that this was something he had been «manifesting» for the past couple of years, even while thriving with the Kansas City Chiefs.

«This was the place I've always wanted to be. And I think most people around me, they wanted that, too,» said Mathieu, who pointed out the Saints were the only team he visited in person during free agency before he signed a three-year deal that sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter is worth $33 million with $18 million in guarantees.

«From there it was just about everything coming together, aligning,» Mathieu said. «But I've kind of been manifesting this for a while now. Just to have this opportunity means a lot to me.»

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Mathieu only hinted at a desire to prove the Chiefs (and other teams) wrong, telling the Saints' podcast, «As good of a football player as I think I am, maybe I'm not good enough, so that's what's kind of keeping me motivated.»

And when a reporter mentioned that Mathieu is about to turn 30 on May 13, he joked in response, «You said 30 like that's old. I'm just heating up.»

Mostly, however, Mathieu said he is excited to join a Saints defense under new head coach and former coordinator Dennis Allen that he has admired from afar for several years. And he is equally excited to «impact the community that I grew up in.»

The feeling is mutual among the Saints' fan base, where his jersey is already in high demand.

There was a time when the