Tyrann Mathieu’s Comeback Story - Getting Unstuck

Tyrann Mathieu talks about how his childhood without parents shaped his life and how he realized that chasing the love of other people was taking him in the wrong direction. Learn how Tyrann almost lost everything, and how he changed the narrative so that experience would drive him to even greater success.

• Growing up for Tyrann was a mix of both worlds. His parents weren’t around because his father was in prison for murder and his mother wasn’t responsible enough to raise him on her own.
• Tyrann was raised mainly by his grandparents and aunt and uncle. Tyrann remembers asking his mother why he didn’t live with her and she couldn’t provide an answer, which has always been a source of pain for him.
• It was lucky for Tyrann that his grandmother instilled structure in his life because that allowed him to get into sports and stay out of trouble.
• The pain of his relationship with his mother still comes up, but he reminds himself that he’s not in that situation anymore and it shouldn’t determine his life.
• An early memory of pain was when Tyrann’s grandmother sent him to live with his uncle. At the time he didn’t realize why she did it, but looking back on it now he can see that it was probably the best thing she could have done for him.
• If you can shift your perspective you can find meaning in your pain. It’s not the event that happens, it’s the meaning that we attach to it.
• Tyrann’s high school coach was his first real teacher. He made Tyrann realize that football could take him places if he took it seriously, and could be the foundation for a greater mission.
• If that particular teacher had not come into Tyrann’s life he would not have chased his dreams the way he did.
• Tyrann’s fall from grace was in being kicked out of school and not being able to play football. Not having football in his life forced Tyrann to put his trust in himself, and a lot of his success in the NFL he attributes to that early struggle.
• The lies that Tyrann told himself were the things that held him back. Tyrann wanted people to believe in him and to feel like he was enough for them.
• We have to go through those low moments to find the real answers in our life.
• Going to jail for possession of marijuana was where Tyrann realized that everyone was watching him and he let people down.
• Tyrann had to stop chasing love from the people in his life before he could start telling his comeback story. We all have the story in our heads where we are not enough.
• Tyrann had to stop believing what other people were telling him and believe in himself. If we don’t address the narrative of not feeling enough you’re going to get stuck and it won’t matter what success you have in your life.
• If that feeling is hijacking your mind you will never escape the feeling of inadequacy. Much of what we are experiencing in the world right now is a result of unfaced fear and unresolved trauma.
• Tyrann is most grateful for his children and being able to give them the life that he never had. The things we can’t put a price on are things we become the most grateful for.
• If Tyrann could send a message to his younger self it would be to keep going and to smile first.
• As a kid, he didn’t know that people were looking to him for inspiration and that there is value in pushing forward for more than just yourself.
• Trust in the process and enjoy the journey.
• Don’t just crush your goals, have a good time doing it.
• If you feel like you are being held back, dig deep and take the blame off others. Figure out what your part in your situation is your responsibility and what you can do about it.
• Patrick Peterson was one of the first people to believe Tyrann was an elite talent and helped him believe that about himself.
• Having Patrick in his life has given Tyrann someone to look to for inspiration.
• For those days where you are struggling to find gratitude, think about the people that have always been there for you.
• Your comeback story is not about freedom for yourself, it’s about freedom from yourself. Being patient and accepting of yourself is the beginning of self-love.