Mathieu's redemption story complete with long-term extension

By his own admission, Tyrann Mathieu's ascent from a barren, cold jail cell to All-Pro defensive back once seemed impossible. After receiving a five-year extension worth a reported $62.5 million with $40 million guaranteed, Mathieu's improbable road to stardom has been fully realized.

Mathieu emerged on the national scene in 2011 as a tantalizing, multipurpose prospect at LSU, equally dangerous as a safety, hybrid linebacker, and kick returner. Nicknamed "The Honey Badger," Mathieu was one of the rare collegiate players who became appointment viewing, luring viewers in with mouths agape at his tremendous skill and theatrics.

Then, in August 2012, Mathieu's world came crashing down.

He was dismissed from LSU due to a violation of team rules before entering rehabilitation, but was arrested two months later for marijuana possession. A year after enamoring the college football world with his endless highlight reel, Mathieu was perilously close to being rendered an afterthought before turning 21.

Gaining the endorsement of his LSU and now-Arizona Cardinals teammate Patrick Peterson, the organization took a chance on Mathieu in the third round of the 2013 NFL Draft, issuing a zero-tolerance policy. Since joining the club, Mathieu has emerged as a vocal leader both on and off the field, and head coach Bruce Arians said he was his favorite player, upon tearing his ACL last December.

In many respects, Mathieu could be viewed as a singularly unique case. His playmaking instincts are second to none, and despite measuring in at 5-foot-9, 186 pounds, he's proven to be an elite run-stopper. Along with teammate Deone Bucannon, Mathieu's ability to star as a slot cornerback, free safety, and hybrid linebacker is an instructive model for a modern-day professional defense.

Boasting superior talent, Mathieu is also the rare player to overcome multiple ACL injuries through his career and return undeterred, if not better. Mathieu tore his ACL and LCL in December 2013 and returned as an authentic superstar. Prior to his torn ACL in December 2015, Mathieu was a leading candidate for Defensive Player of the Year, and the extension suggests the Cardinals believe he will once again return brazenly unfazed.

In every possible avenue, Mathieu embodies what the modern superstar ought to be. He's one of the league's most politically active players, speaking out against the culture of gun violence in New Orleans following the death of former Saints defensive end Will Smith. Holding a platform that was almost snatched away from him, Mathieu has done everything he can to make the most of his opportunity as an NFL star.

Mathieu's unique style of play may prove to be inimitable, but his triumph from personal nadir could serve as a model for a number of troubled players, both at the collegiate and professional level. By signing an extension that makes him one of the faces of the Cardinals organization, Mathieu's spectacular tale of redemption is now complete.