The Kansas City Chiefs will look to make NFL history when they meet the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl 59 this weekend. Andy Reid & Co. have the opportunity to become the first team in history to win three straight Lombardi Trophies, meaning the Chiefs need everyone to step up to achieve that historical accomplishment.
Veteran wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins is one player the Chiefs can rely on this weekend. The five-time Pro Bowl playmaker has been one of quarterback Patrick Mahomes' favorite weapons since being acquired before the NFL trade deadline and will do whatever it takes to make an impact in his Super Bowl debut.
While Hopkins' on-field performance has been impressive, it's been another quality he possesses that caught Reid off guard.
Chiefs News: Andy Reid Surprised by DeAndre Hopkins' Leadership
In an interview leading up to the Super Bowl, Reid spoke to A to Z Sports' Charles Goldman about how Hopkins' leadership caught the Chiefs coach off guard following the midseason trade.
"I knew we were getting a good player but I didn't know about the leadership part," Reid confessed. "That whole senior leadership he's brought, I appreciate that."
Chiefs HC Andy Reid on WR DeAndre Hopkins: "I knew we were getting a good player, but I didn't know about the leadership part. . . that whole senior leadership he's brought, I appreciate that. He's a unique route runner. He's shared that with some of the guys."
— Charles Goldman (@goldmctNFL) February 5, 2025
The 66-year-old HC also praised Hopkins' route-running, revealing that the latter has shared some of his techniques with the rest of Kansas City's WR room.
Hopkins, 32, has accumulated a wealth of experience after playing parts of 12 NFL seasons for the Chiefs, Tennessee Titans, Arizona Cardinals, and Houston Texans. He's been one of the league's top pass-catchers throughout that time, amassing 12,965 receiving yards and 83 touchdowns on 984 receptions.
Even no longer in his prime, Hopkins quickly made an impact on Kansas City's offense, turning 41 catches into 437 yards and four TDs in 10 outings following the trade. He's since cooled off in the playoffs, however, leaders like him tend to step up when it matters the most and that could be the case in New Orleans this weekend.
Fortunately, the future looks bright for Hopkins and the rest of Kansas City's wideouts. FanDuel Sportsbook is still listing the Chiefs as 1.5-point favorites over the Eagles just four days away from Super Bowl 59.
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