Tyrann Mathieu Reveals How He Almost Died While Trying To Pass a Drug Test [VIDEO]
This article was originally published on Total Pro Sports.
Former NFL star Tyrann Mathieu was no stranger to failed drug tests during his doomed run at LSU. It ultimately got him kicked off the team. Mathieu was dismissed from the LSU football program in 2023 for multiple failed drug tests.
When asked how many drug tests he failed at LSU at the time, Mathieu said, “I quit counting at 10. I really don’t know.”
He would then embark on a travel schedule to meet with NFL coaches to secure his football future. The 2011 Heisman Trophy Finalist missed the 2012 season after coach Les Miles booted him off the team for those drug tests. It ended up working out for him in the end. However, there was a time when it looked as if his football career might be over.
Fast forward to 2026, and the now-retired NFL star is speaking out about his past at LSU.
Tyrann Mathieu Reveals How Close To Death He Was Trying To Pass A Drug Test
Former NFL defensive back Tyrann Mathieu, who retired in 2025, is opening up about his drug situation at LSU. Mathieu was suspended once for a drug-related offense and then dismissed for one year. There were no other suspensions during that time, especially during the height of his epic run to the Heisman Trophy ceremony.
Now, he is opening up about the lengths he went to just to pass a test. He claimed he tried to use other people’s urine as well as a fake penis. Nothing compared to when he almost passed away.
Tyrann Mathieu almost died trying to pass a drug test at LSU 😳
“It felt like my whole insides were erupting… at that point I was like, ‘f*ck it, I’ve run out of tricks.’” pic.twitter.com/qxvijVWnqb
— In The Bayou With Tyrann Mathieu (@InTheBayouPod) January 29, 2026
Tyrann Mathieu stated that he was on Google trying to find ways to beat a piss test due to threats from the school. He then came across something that told him to put a cap full of bleach in a coke bottle. That combination had him feeling as if his insides were erupting.
The combination eventually made him throw up. Once he got through that, he essentially gave up and accepted his fate.
