DeAndre Hopkins is re-energized as a new member of the Kansas City Chiefs.
The veteran wide receiver is also a huge boost to Kansas City, which is looking to make history as the first team to win three consecutive Super Bowls. Hopkins is looking forward to showcasing his skills on the NFL’s only remaining unbeaten team and then playing on the biggest stage in the postseason.
The Chiefs are already the favorite to repeat as champions and the addition of Hopkins boosts their chances even more.
“It takes your game to a different level,” Hopkins said about playing for a contender at his introductory press conference. “It takes your focus, your drive, knowing that you’re playing for something. It takes your game to a different level. I haven’t played meaningful football in a couple of years, since probably when we started 8–0 in Arizona. ... It takes your game to a different level.”
Hopkins is playing his 12th season in the NFL, spending time with the Houston Texans (2013–2019), Arizona Cardinals (2020–2022), Tennessee Titans (2023–2024), and now Kansas City.
He leads all current players in targets (1,526), catches (943), receiving yards (12,528), receiving first downs (652), and catches of 25 yards or more (113). Hopkins ranks third in receiving touchdowns (79).
Related Stories
In addition, Hopkins fills a huge void for the Chiefs, who have lost a pair of play-making wide receivers—Marquise Brown and Rasheen Rice—to season-ending injuries. Hopkins also provides two-time MVP quarterback Patrick Mahomes with another sure-handed pass catcher who can get behind the secondary.
“He’s a veteran player and seen just about everything over 12 years,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said at his daily press conference. “He’s a good space player, so he’s very good at understanding how to work in space. At the same time, he’s a tough matchup because of his size, arm length, big body that knows how to kind of play that low post area very well.”
Kansas City is 6–0 and in first place in the AFC West, three games ahead of the second-place Denver Broncos. The Chiefs play the struggling Las Vegas Raiders (2–5) on Sunday and it is possible Hopkins could make his debut.
“Why wait, right? If he can handle it, without putting him in a bad position,” Reid said at the press conference.
The Chiefs are undefeated despite some struggles by the offense throughout the season. Kansas City is ranked 10th in the NFL with 350.3 yards per game and is 13th with 24.3 points per game.
Mahomes is also having an uneven performance, throwing for 1,602 yards with six touchdowns and eight interceptions.
Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy is confident the addition of Hopkins will solve a lot of challenges. Hopkins also adds a swagger to the team.
“He’s played in a lot of games. He understands and he’s seen a bunch of different defenses,” Nagy said at his weekly news conference. “That’s valuable. Whether it’s zone or man, he’s a very good route runner; he understands leverages. ... You see it on tape [and] you see it in interviews, but then when he’s here up close, live, and in person, you see the confidence and the swag that he has. And I think that confidence can really penetrate, and you feel that with the other players.”
