Hopkins: ‘I Got Traded for Some Pennies in My Prime’
By: Robert MacRae January 29, 2025

Starring at Clemson from 2010-12, DeAndre Hopkins entered the NFL in 2013 as a first-round pick of the Houston Texans in that year’s NFL Draft.

Now, more than a decade later, Hopkins will finally get the chance to suit up in The Big Game.

Hopkins – a 12-year NFL veteran and one of his generation’s best wide receivers – spoke about the long-awaited opportunity to play in the Super Bowl, after his Kansas City Chiefs defeated the Buffalo Bills, 32-29, in Sunday’s AFC Championship Game.

“I’ve been doubted, and a lot of people wrote me off,” Hopkins said, via senior NFL reporter and NFL insider James Palmer. “Twelve years in the league, man. I got traded for some pennies in my prime.”

A five-time All-Pro and five-time Pro Bowler, Hopkins was traded to the Chiefs from the Tennessee Titans on Oct. 24 for a conditional fifth-round pick.

This season is the first time since the 2019 season that Hopkins has been in the playoffs, and now his campaign with the Chiefs will culminate with a trip to New Orleans for Super Bowl LIX against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, Feb. 9.

Hopkins thanked the Chiefs for making the trade to bring him in.

“I just want to thank the organization that gave me a shot to where I could still go out here, make plays when I need to, draw double teams, and play beautiful football,” he said.

Since being shipped to Kansas City, Hopkins has recorded 42 receptions for 448 yards and four touchdowns across 10 regular season games and two playoff games. Prior to the trade, he posted 15 catches for 173 yards and a touchdown in six games with the Titans this season.

The 32-year-old has amassed 984 receptions for 12,965 yards and 83 touchdowns during his NFL career with the Texans, Arizona Cardinals, Titans and Chiefs.

–Photo courtesy of Denny Medley-Imagn Images