After Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins caught his first touchdown against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday Night Football, Hopkins celebrated with a dance from the movie Remember the Titans. Some took the celebration as a diss at Hopkins’ previous team, the Tennessee Titans.
Hopkins took to social media on Tuesday to refute those claims.
“It was a shout to Tennessee,” Hopkins wrote on X, “if u know me u know it’s nothing but love for Nashville. [Titans GM Ran Carthon] and his crew are like family. Without them, I wouldn’t be here.”
It was a shout to Tennessee, if u know me u know it’s nothing but love for Nashville. Ran and his crew are like family. Without them, I wouldn’t be here. https://t.co/6YqEZlXyn5
— Deandre Hopkins (@DeAndreHopkins) November 5, 2024
Hopkins signed with the Titans in July 2023 on a two-year contract, and was with the team until the Titans traded him to the Chiefs on Oct. 24.
The 32-year-old receiver was not having his typical success with the Titans this season before he was traded to the Chiefs. After catching for over 1,000 yards with Tennessee in 2023, Hopkins had just 15 catches for 173 yards and one touchdown over six games with the Titans. This was not a reflection of Hopkins, but rather a struggling Titans pasings offense.
The Titans’ passing offense ranks second-to-last in the NFL through the midway point of the season, which kept Hopkins from producing like he usually does.
Since joining the Chiefs, Hopkins has already established an immediate connection with superstar quarterback Patrick Mahomes. Hopkins caught two passes for 29 yards in his first game as a Chief in Week 8, before catching eight passes for 86 yards and two touchdowns in Monday’s win over the Buccaneers.
On Monday, Hopkins once again completed the plays that made him one of the best receivers in the NFL during his prime. In the second quarter, Hopkins incredibly hauled in a pass with three Buccaneers defenders in the area that put the Chiefs in the red zone. Hopkins shortly scored his first touchdown as a Chief later that drive.
In a rainy game that went to overtime, Hopkins was a key difference maker for the Chiefs’ offensive attack. The Chiefs have lacked some weapons for Mahomes on that end, and have gotten off to an 8-0 start this season primarily because of their defense, not their offense. Heading into Monday’s game, Mahomes had thrown just eight touchdowns to nine interceptions, a rare statline for the two-time NFL MVP and three-time Super Bowl champion.
With Hopkins better adjusted in his second game, Mahomes threw three touchdown passes and no interceptions in the win over Tampa Bay, his first game without an interception this season.
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