Before he was a Super Bowl champion and a household name in the NFL, Tyrann Mathieu was one of the most electric players in college football. But behind the highlight-reel punt returns and forced fumbles, Mathieu was fighting a desperate, hidden battle with drug tests that nearly cost him everything, including his life. It backfired.”Article Continues BelowI look back on some of the wildest moments of my life 😂😂 https://t.co/4oDXUrJQmN — Tyrann Mathieu (@Mathieu_Era) January 29, 2026The desperation makes sense when you look at what was at stake. He even took two punt returns to the house, finishing the year with 421 return yards. Mathieu later admitted to an NFL coach that he “quit counting” his failed drug tests after 10.