Wake up at 6 a.m., study the playbook, go to team meetings, do some drills, take part in 30-minute scrimmages, call it a day around 5 p.m., then keep studying the playbook.
For Lynn’s Mathieu Severance, that was his schedule during the Kansas City Chiefs’ mini-camp, one that lasted three days beginning May 3.
“I was definitely excited, just to know where I was going,” said Severance, a 2019 Lynn English graduate who finished as its all-time leader in passing yards and touchdowns. “Obviously, there aren’t a lot of places you’d rather go than that spot, so learning how a championship team is run and how they handle business on a day-to-day basis were probably my biggest takeaways when I was there.”
Severance usually sees when things are coming – look no further than the cornerback’s two interceptions and 16 pass-breaks over his career with Bentley University (’24) – but, truth be told, the defending Super Bowl Champions blindsided him.
“Kansas City, kind of, came out of nowhere. I wasn’t expecting them at all,” said Severance, who checks in at 5-10, 190 pounds. “My agent talked to me about Baltimore, the Steelers, the Jags, and then he mentioned Dallas, so I had no idea about KC.”
He does now. Each of the three days came with two-a-days and “a ton of meetings.”
“It was pretty cool to see how Andy Reid talked and how he spoke to the players, and Steve Spagnuolo, he’s one of the best defensive coordinators ever. A guy of that caliber, listening to him is something I’ll always take with me,” Severance said. “Then, you’re just looking at the playbook until you fall asleep at night, so the schedule was pretty booked the entire time.”
Booked, indeed, but Severance said he didn’t view the camp as work.
“Yeah, it didn’t feel like it was crazy to me,” said Severance, who grew up a Tom Brady fan and still recalls 2018’s Thanksgiving win against Lynn Classical. “It was something I’ve always wanted. I just tried to embrace every minute of it and stay grounded.”
He embraced his end-of-camp chat with defensive backs coach Dave Merritt, too.
“I didn’t end up getting signed to the training camp, but I spoke to the DBs coach for words of advice and what he thought about my game,” Severance said. “He said I was a smart player and that it’d be wise for me to keep playing football.”
Mission accomplished. Montreal Alouettes’ General Manager Danny Maciocia called Severance on Wednesday, asking him to join the Canadian Football League franchise with eight Grey Cup wins (most recently in 2023).
“He said, ‘It’s a done deal,’ so I’m just waiting for the contract to sign,” Severance said. “I could be there as soon as Sunday… the first preseason game is the 25th of this month, so it’s a quick turnaround.”
Don’t worry, Bruins’ fans. Severance said he’s “not buying into any of the Canadian sports,” but looks forward to other aspects of his new home.
“Living in a different country, living in Montreal, it’s going to be exciting without any distractions – school, or whatever else that may be,” said Severance, whose go-to workout is bench press. “Just be a full-time, professional football player.”
In the end, as long as football is in his life, that’s a win. His endgame, however, is to get back to the NFL.
“That’s the plan,” he said. “Hopefully, come back down after a year there (Montreal) and keep playing. Hopefully, I get a shot in the NFL. That’s where I’m at right now, and hopefully, that’s how it works out.”
BULLDOG BULLETS
- Growing up in Lynn, his injury problems and lack of size helped mold his mental toughness, according to Severance
- Severance doesn’t enjoy eating before games, but will settle for chicken and rice if there is a night time
- He played for the Chargers’ flag football team in Lynn
- Severance was a four-year starter at English and majored in economics-finance at Bentley
- His high school coach, Chris Carroll, was also a defensive back at Bentley
- Severance was an Item Player of the Year and scored all-star nods from Shriners and Agganis