When hard-hitting veteran safety Tyrann Mathieu was looking for a new NFL employer in March after being cut by the Arizona Cardinals following a contract dispute, he had specific job requirements that went beyond money.

An emotional leader with a rich backstory of perseverance after overcoming off-field problems in college, the former All-Pro selection wanted to join a locker room that was serious about winning.

Eleven games into his one-year, $7 million contract, Mathieu is extremely happy with his choice to join the Texans on what amounted to a prove-it arrangement.

"I think, ultimately, I tried to come to a team where obviously I felt comfortable," Mathieu said Friday. "I wanted to come to a team where guys wanted to play football, love football and ultimately, I feel like I made the right decision."

Before he signed with the Texans in March, Mathieu already knew several Texans players, including defensive end J.J. Watt, quarterback Deshaun Watson and cornerbacks Johnathan Joseph and Kareem Jackson.

That gave the New Orleans native a comfort level when he was choosing a new team.

"I knew a lot of guys in this locker room, maybe about six or seven guys that I knew love football, were really passionate about it," Mathieu said. "It kind of helped make my decision easier, especially when those guys began to reach out to me expressing their interest in me joining their team. I think it went both ways, it was mutual. And I think ultimately, I picked the right place to go."

As do the AFC South-leading Texans, who consider Mathieu to be as advertised in all facets of his play and personality.

Voted a team captain, Mathieu has provided inspirational speeches and mentored younger teammates. He has delivered several punishing hits and game-changing plays.

And the Texans' relatively modest investment of a $4.5 million signing bonus for Mathieu is paying off with major dividends on and off the field.

"Yeah, he's been everything that we've hoped for," Texans coach Bill O'Brien said. "He's a great teammate, was voted a captain, had only been here for one offseason and was voted a captain at the end of training camp. Good tackler, good ball skills, tough guy."

Although it will be months before the Texans and Mathieu will begin discussing a potential long-term, lucrative contract extension, a lengthy deal is the expected outcome.

Mathieu has bolstered his value with consistently strong performances on the field. While he'll obviously have several options and expensive contract offers should he hit free agency, Mathieu is expected to give the Texans the first crack at locking him up.

"Yeah, most definitely," Mathieu said when asked if he would consider signing a new contract with the Texans. "Obviously, just really trying to finish this season off strong, keep doing what I've been doing once I got here, keep that chip on my shoulder and then try my best to continue to make everybody around me better. Until that day comes, we will focus on that, but for right now, it looks like I'm a Texan."

Watt is represented by Creative Artists Agency, the same representation as Mathieu. The three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year had a hand in recommending and recruiting Mathieu.

"Yeah, I think it turned out exactly how I'd hoped it would turn out," Watt said. "He's a great player. He came in he makes plays, he finds ways to affect the game and he's done a great job for us."

Mathieu has recorded 61 tackles, two interceptions, three sacks, four tackles for losses, one fumble recovery and five passes defended. This marks the most tackles, sacks, quarterback hits and fumble recoveries the former LSU standout has registered at this stage of the year in his six NFL seasons.

"I think, ultimately, I've really prided myself by really coming in and kind of embracing the safety role, accepting the safety role," Mathieu said. "A lot of different times, it's been very challenging for me, but I've been buying in to it. My teammates, my coaches, have really been helping me out a lot with that transition. So, it's been fun for me."

Texans defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel has primarily utilized Mathieu as a pure safety.

Although he's responsible for run support and utilized in blitz packages, Mathieu is asked to be a center fielder and make sure no one gets behind him. He's asked to lend his cerebral nature and instincts to aid the entire defense at every level. He usually lines up further away from the line of scrimmage than he did in Arizona where he had a versatile role that included duties as a cornerback and as a nickel linebacker.

"Well, I think it's challenging because this is a different system," Mathieu said. "Some people say if you're further away from the ball, it minimizes your chances of impact and getting hit, but I try not to look at it like that.

"I've always been the kind of guy, it doesn't matter what position my coach put me at, I always try to just do my job and then get to the football."

Throughout the process of adapting to a new team and scheme, Mathieu has learned a lot about himself while helping the Texans go on a seven-game winning streak heading into a Monday night home game against the Tennessee Titans. Mathieu credited O'Brien, Crennel and secondary coach Anthony Midget for helping him make a smooth transition.

"I found out that I'm really patient," Mathieu said. "It's different challenges within football, but I've never really had a challenge within a certain system playing in a different position, having to be the communicator. I'm a pretty quiet guy, so I think me having to communicate every play, just different things that have been challenging.

"I've always been kind of like the cornerback on the field. I've always gotten the calls from the linebackers and the safeties, and that kind of helped me play fast. I think coming in here, being the communicator, I think it's helping balance out my game and then I'm able to offer more as well."

Aaron.wilson@chron.com

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