The Tennessee Titans officially started their rebuild when they traded former All-Pro wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins to the Kansas City Chiefs in exchange for a Day 3 draft pick. Hopkins has wasted no time reminding those who declared his career dead in Tennessee that he is still a quality playmaker.
In an overtime win against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Hopkins caught eight passes for 86 yards and two touchdowns. His first score was punctuated with a memorable "Remember the Titans" tribute that was seen by many as him paying homage to his old running mates in Nashville.
It would be easy for Hopkins to throw the Titans under the bus, especially after he landed alongside Patrick Mahomes on a team many expect to win their third consecutive Super Bowl. Instead, Hopkins chose to use his platform to shout out the city he called home for parts of two seasons.
Hopkins confirmed that his "Remember The Titans" touchdown celebration was a tribute to his time in Nashville. Hopkins said that GM Ran Carthon is "family" in his eyes, and he is looking back fondly on his time in Tennessee. His time may have been short but he held up his end of the bargain.
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
DeAndre Hopkins gives Titans shoutout after first Chiefs touchdown
The quarterback play Hopkins received in Tennessee was abysmal. Despite a broken-down Ryan Tannehill and a rookie Will Levis as his quarterbacks, the Titans star managed to top 1,000 yards receiving last year. He never got on the same page with Levis in 2024, nor did he play well alongside Calvin Ridley.
Those using his Titans numbers to claim Kansas City was being sold a lemon simply were not paying attention. Now that Mahomes is his quarterback, expect Hopkins to use his extremely strong hands and veteran savvy to pile up the big plays.
The Hopkins trade has made Kansas City a much better team. With the defense now focusing on Hopkins, Travis Kelce is freed up for more targets. He became the first player in NFL history to record 14 catches in a game at age 35 or older.
The Titans' desire to rebuild was not compatible with a future Hall of Famer like Hopkins trying to get a championship ring. In a pleasant surprise for Titans fans, however, Hopkins seems to have fond memories of his time with Tennessee despite some tough losses on the ledger.