Originally posted on MCDAVID USA Blog
It’s often difficult for children without a mother or father present in their lives to excel. But that’s just what Tyrann Mathieu has accomplished. This professional football star didn’t have ideal family influences early in life. His father was in prison (incarcerated for murder), and his mother wasn’t involved in his life the majority of the time. He was raised by his grandparents, but when his grandfather died in 1997, Mathieu’s aunt and uncle adopted him.
Through difficult training, drive and determination, Tyrann became a successful high school athlete in track and football. He accepted a scholarship from Louisiana State University where he was an All-American and Heisman Trophy winner and now plays professional football for the Arizona Cardinals.