New Orleans Saints safety [Tyrann Mathieu](/team/players-roster/tyrann-mathieu/)unveiled a shorn look this offseason, having rid himself of the trademark locks and gone back to a close-cropped look that he possibly hasn't sported since his days at St. Augustine High in New Orleans or even prior to that, before he evolved into the Honey Badger.
"Trying to shave some years off," the 13-year veteran said Tuesday, smiling, after completing the first day of mandatory minicamp at the Ochsner Sports Performance Center.
Contributing as much to Mathieu's usual youthful exuberance is the fact that the Saints have a new coaching staff and are in the process of installing a new system.
Defensive coordinator Brandon Staley was head coach of the Chargers from 2021-23, Mathieu was a safety with the Chiefs from 2019-21 and saw enough of the Chargers to have formed an opinion on Staley's work.
"I always thought his defenses played hard," Mathieu said. "They moved around a lot, even the back end perspective. I always felt like his safeties were involved in the game. They play a lot of top down, I think that's exciting."
He was just as impressed with the work of first-year head coach Kellen Moore.
"Change is good, sometimes," Mathieu said, smiling. "I think everybody is excited.
"People have watched (Moore) from afar throughout the league; when he was in Dallas, it was one of the highest scoring offenses and when he went to Philadelphia – Philadelphia was kind of struggling offensively for a minute and then he came, and then they went back to the Super Bowl.
"I do think he has some type of impact on teams. He played the quarterback position, so he knows ball. That's a good perspective to have, because it is an offensive league."