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Adam Teicher, ESPN writer
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — DeAndre Hopkins had been in the league for a while, with the Kansas City Chiefs being his fourth team in 12 NFL seasons. But in some ways, Hopkins felt like a rookie when he arrived in a midseason trade.
Suddenly, he was teamed with Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, Chris Jones, Andy Reid and others and had never before felt the weight of the expectations that came with them. At age 32, just as he was beginning to realize his football mortality, this situation was exactly what Hopkins wanted.
“They’re coming off a championship, two championships, so it feels a lot different than anywhere else I’ve been,” said Hopkins, who made the playoffs earlier in his career with the Houston Texans and Arizona Cardinals. either team reached the divisional round.
“Everything that everyone does here, not only in this facility but outside of it, is detailed, and that’s how championships are won,” he added. “It means a lot. It takes your game to a different level. It requires your focus, your drive, knowing you’re playing for something.”
Hopkins is not the prolific receiver with the Chiefs that he was early in his career. In the 10 games since his arrival, Hopkins has 41 receptions for 437 yards and four touchdowns.
But he still helped the Chiefs to a 15-2 record, a ninth consecutive AFC West championship and the AFC’s first playoff berth.
“You didn’t know what to expect as far as the player on and off the field,” Mahomes said. “But he walks in the room and he’s a leader from Day 1. He’s teaching the younger guys, he’s helping the younger guys in the room on things that he’s learned. Then you get on the practice field and you see how explosive he still is. is and how he can still make these plays, and he can go one-on-one with the best of the best and win.
“It was definitely a nice surprise for me to see him on the football field. I think I may even give him more and more opportunities as he goes because it seems like he’s making plays every time I make plays.”
The intensity of the situation only increases from here. The Chiefs begin their 2024 playoffs on Saturday against the Texans at Arrowhead Stadium (4:30 p.m. ET, ESPN/ABC/ESPN+).
That’s what Hopkins wanted at this point in his career. He was so happy after the October trade from Tennessee that he made it a point to thank Titans general manager Ran Carthon for sending him to the Chiefs instead of a team that wouldn’t be contenders.
“I haven’t played meaningful football in a couple of years since we probably started [7-0] in arizona [in 2021]so it takes the game to a different level,” Hopkins said. “I’ve done a lot, all the accolades I can achieve personally, so I think playing meaningful football in January is the last thing on the list.”
TOOK SOME The time had come for it to happen, but Hopkins, playing for the Chiefs, seemed destined. The Chiefs had pursued Hopkins for a while. At one point they talked to the Cardinals about a trade. They pursued him later as a free agent, but he opted for the Titans.
The courtship culminated two years ago when Hopkins crossed paths with Chris Jones at an event in Miami. Their conversation revolved around what things would be like if Hopkins played in Kansas City.
“We both agreed he would have a lot of success with this offense,” Jones said.[There were] A lot of things happened and unfortunately we were not able to acquire it at that time. But how life works is a full circle. And unfortunately with the injuries, we needed a wide receiver.”
Chiefs general manager Brett Veach was among those who thought Hopkins was destined for Kansas City. That was particularly true when Hopkins was a free agent two years ago.
The Chiefs had lost JuJu Smith-Schuster, their top wide receiver, to 2022 and wide receiver Mecole Hardman in free agency (both players later returned). They needed someone to lead a group of receivers that, at the time, included Márquez Valdés-Scantling, Justin Watson, Kadarius Toney and Skyy Moore.
“We were there at the end and Tennessee got to a place where we couldn’t do it money-wise,” Veach said. “He went to Tennessee, but if we had the means to do it,” Veach said. [sign him] “I think I would have come here.”
After injuries to wide receivers Rashee Rice and Hollywood Brown, the Chiefs finally got it done this season, bringing in Brown and sending a fifth-round pick to the Titans that becomes a fourth if the Chiefs make the Super Bowl.
WHEN THE BOSSES After trading for Hopkins, they were looking for a veteran to stabilize their wide receiver group. At the time, Smith-Schuster was out with an injury, along with Brown and Rice, although he returned to the lineup in November.
In Hopkins, they found someone willing to lead a group that includes promising rookie and first-round pick Xavier Worthy. They watched as Hopkins became the leader in receiving drills on his first day of practice, a time when many veterans defer to those who have been with the team longer.
“We’ve had players that we acquired mid-season and usually the first practice is an evaluation process,” Veach said. “We have DeAndre and in the first practice he jumps right on the line, at the front of the line. I’m sure that’s what he’s done his entire career, but I think that’s important when you come to a team with a young group
“You never know when you bring a guy in mid-season. I think [Hopkins] He was very confident just because of the career he had and the experience he had. … He has a confident attitude.”
Hopkins is used to being his quarterback’s favorite target. He led his team in receptions in seven of his first 11 NFL seasons. The exceptions were his first two seasons in the league. With the Texans, he finished behind Hall of Fame wide receiver Andre Johnson, and with the Cardinals, he missed several games due to injuries.
Hopkins has never played for a team built like the Chiefs. One tight end, Kelce, was their leading receiver, while another, Noah Gray, was second on the team in touchdown receptions. Worthy is their third leading wide receiver since the Chiefs traded Tyreek Hill three years ago (Smith-Schuster led in 2022 and Rice led in 2023).
He had to be willing to accept a smaller role than he has had for most of his career. Without demanding the ball, without dissatisfaction when it reaches a different receiver.
“It really hasn’t been that way,” offensive coordinator Matt Nagy said. “There’ll be some things he’ll see throughout the game, and he’ll come to you and say, ‘Hey, I see this.'” I love that. I know Coach Reid knows that too, he also has to understand, ‘OK, we got you.’
“He’s been great at responding to us telling him that, and I don’t think that should change. He’s taken a lot of reps. He’s seen a lot of things.”
Hopkins’ credentials for eventual inclusion in the Pro Football Hall of Fame already appear established. He ranks 16th all-time in pass receptions (984), 21st in yards (12,965).
Helping the Chiefs win a third straight Super Bowl would only strengthen his legacy. That’s why the Chiefs acquired him in a trade and why he thanked the Titans for sending him to Kansas City.
But he seemed to enjoy the trip.
“Throughout my career, I’ve been a big fan of what Andy has done,” Hopkins said. “Going up against those guys in Houston, they gave us some tough battles, so I always admired him from afar. I haven’t been here long, but Coach Reid has definitely pushed me as a player. He’s always watching everything you do and You want to go out and be perfect. You won’t be perfect but you will want to do your best. He has a standard and you feel it in the locker room.
“I’m grateful to be here. I’m still taking it in.”
