Every offseason, the Philadelphia Eaglesare linked to some of the NFL's biggest names. Most of those rumors never materialize into anything. Rarely does smoke lead to an actual fire, but every so often a player reveals there was more substance to the speculation than fans ever realized.
Former All-Pro safety Tyrann Mathieu recently did just that. During the 2022 offseason, Mathieu became one of the most intriguing free agents on the market after his three-year stint with the Kansas City Chiefs ended.
The Eagles were looking to bolster their secondary, and yes, some conversations mentioned the City of Brotherly Love as a logical landing spot. He and Philadelphia's leadership even enjoyed a virtual interview once, but it wasn't meant to be. Mathieu
ultimately chose to return home, signing a three-year, $28.3 million contract with the New Orleans Saints. Philadelphia ultimately pivoted, adding C.J. Gardner-Johnson instead. There isn't anyone in the Delaware valley who doesn't know how all of that worked out in the end.
Tyrann Mathieu says the Eagles were a real possibility
Matthieu is now retired and co-hosting the In The Bayou With Tyrann Mathieu podcast. He admitted that joining Philadelphia was something he seriously considered before deciding on New Orleans.
Tyrann Mathieu almost signed with the Eagles before eventually becoming a New Orleans Saint 😳
— In The Bayou With Tyrann Mathieu (@InTheBayouPod) August 1, 2026
"Howie Roseman was sending me highlights and sh*t, he went all out. It was just funny because by the time I looked up at the end of the season, Philly was playing the Chiefs in the… pic.twitter.com/UQ26RGQfFN
The decision appeared understandable at the time. Returning to Louisiana allowed Mathieu to play for his hometown team, while the Saints believed they could remain competitive in the NFC.
Instead, New Orleans finished 7-10 during the 2022 season. Although the Saints defeated the Eagles in Week 17 on New Year's Day, Philadelphia rebounded to capture the NFC Championship and advance to Super Bowl LVII against the Chiefs, the very organization Mathieu had just left.
Looking back, that's the opportunity he believes slipped away. Rather than getting a chance at what he described as some "get back" against his former team on football's biggest stage, Mathieu watched from afar as the Eagles and Chiefs battled for the Lombardi Trophy.
No one can say whether Mathieu would have altered the outcome of Super Bowl LVII had he signed with Philadelphia. What his comments do illustrate, however, is how one free-agent decision can reshape a career. In choosing the Saints, Mathieu returned home, but he also passed on what could have been one final opportunity to face the Chiefs with a championship on the line.
This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Tyrann Mathieu reveals how close he came to joining the Eagles
