Clemson great DeAndre Hopkins in Super Bowl with Chiefs as veteran leader, thankful son
It might have taken 12 years as pro, multiple teams and a trade earlier this season, but DeAndre “Nuk” Hopkins will be suiting up Sunday for the Kansas City Chiefs with a chance to become a Super Bowl champion.
The three-time first-team NFL All-Pro and Clemson great is finally on football’s greatest stage.
His journey to New Orleans and Super Bowl 59 started back in Clemson, South Carolina, where he grew up around some of the Tigers’ best young football talent. For some athletes, it takes until they reach the collegiate level to know they have special talent. Hopkins’ mom, Sabrina Greenlee, knew at a young age.
“He was about five years old, and he was throwing the ball flat footed like half the field it and all the coaches were like raving and saying, ‘Oh my God, he’s going to be special,’ ” she said. “I’m just sitting there like a proud mama, like, ‘OK, yeah,’ so I think that was the moment that we knew he had the it factor.”
Choosing Clemson was easy for Hopkins. His uncle also played for the Tigers, and the stadium was so close to his house that he could hear when they scored a touchdown. But what many don’t know is that he was recruited by multiple colleges as a defensive back, including Clemson.
When Hopkins played in 7-on-7 events, an uncommon game for high-schoolers in his area, college recruiters began to see his wide receiver potential. He finished his collegiate career with 206 receptions for 3,020 yards and 27 touchdowns. He became the second player in ACC history to total at least 50 receptions as both a freshman and sophomore, and it earned him All-American honors.
But he didn’t just grow as a player at Clemson — he grew as a person.
“He grew personally and spiritually,” Greenlee said. “I remember when he went to Clemson, he actually dedicated his life back to God in front of the entire football team. So that was a pivotal moment. I think that in that moment, he was setting an example and he’s been spiritually connected ever since.”
Hopkins, selected in the first round of the 2013 NFL Draft by the Houston Texans, had five 1,000-yard receiving seasons there before joining Arizona and Tennessee for shorter stints.
More than a decade from when his name was called on draft night, he found out in October 2024 that he was being traded to the back-to-back Super Bowl champions, the Kansas City Chiefs.
Now he had the quarterback many receivers dream of playing for — Patrick Mahomes. But with a new team came changes, including not being the No. 1 target.
However, he isn’t the type to complain about that. Just ask Chiefs coach Andy Reid.
“I didn’t know the leadership part. He’s tremendous that way,” he said. “He’s not complaining when we’re spreading the ball around or utilizing other guys. That whole senior leadership part he brought, I really appreciate and he’s a unique route runner.”
Since putting on a Chiefs uniform, Hopkins has 437 receiving yards on 41 receptions. Even though he hasn’t had as many targets this season, Hopkins, or “Dhop” as some of his K.C. teammates call him, has been a mentor for the younger receivers on his team.
His biggest fan is star rookie receiver Xavier Worthy.
“Dhop is like that uncle, big brother to me,” Worthy said. “That guy has really helped me out a lot. He’s really hard on me whether it’s a ball that’s too far, but he’s like, ‘You could have got that.’
“I just appreciate it because a guy like that, a guy of his stature, can go out there and move how he wants to move, but he has the willingness to help guys younger like me in the league.”
He hasn’t changed who he is, and that’s evident with his relationship with his mom.
In 2002, Greenlee survived an acid accident that left her blind and severely burned. But this hasn’t stopped her. Greenlee is the CEO of SMOOOTH, and she shares her journey to becoming a champion of healing and empowerment in her new memoir, “Grant Me Vision.”
To say making it to his first Super Bowl is special for the mother-son duo is an understatement, and Greenlee already believes her son will be a part of history.
“[It’s an] emotional and exciting time,” she said. “Finally, we’re here — the completion has happened. So you do 12 years, blood, sweat and tears, you go out there, dedicate your body, your life. Finally, I think the ultimate goal for every football player is to get to this platform. And finally, we’re here. So I’m just being supportive, try not to be too emotional and I’m just here for him. I’m excited, and when we win, we will win — three-peat will happen on Sunday. I mean, it’s gonna be a sweet moment for my family and everybody.”
His mom laughed, saying her son thinks he can sing, but he can’t hit a note for his life. That topic always brings a lot of laughter in their family, as does Hopkins’ decision to put honey and jelly on everything.
Jokes aside, the support from Greenlee is waiting for Hopkins this weekend. Hopkins is grateful for all of it.
“My mom, what she’s doing is incredible,” he said. “My message to her is just, thank you.”
Super Bowl Sunday 2025
Who: Kansas City Chiefs (15-2) vs Philadelphia Eagles (14-3)
Where: Caesars Superdome in New Orleans
TV: Fox
When: 6:30 p.m. Sunday