Arrowhead Pride
Kansas City’s veteran wideout uses his experience to help coaches and teammates — and is learning from them, too.
They say the key to any good relationship is communication.
Over the years, we’ve seen how communication has built (and strengthened) the bond between the Kansas City Chiefs’ head coach Andy Reid and quarterback Patrick Mahomes — and between Mahomes and his BFF: tight end Travis Kelce.
But as wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins explained to the media on Thursday, these channels of communication extend throughout the team — and he’s tuned into all of them. For example: when he’s on the field, Hopkins serves as a de facto set of eyes for offensive coordinator Matt Nagy.
“He’s very open to hearing my suggestions out there,” said Hopkins. “I’ve played a lot of ball in this league. So I see things from a different point of view than a coach can [on the sidelines] sometimes — or [even] from up top. We’re on the same mission: trying to win. So [it’s] however I can be helpful.”
Depending on his experience also helped Hopkins to quickly get on the same page with Mahomes and the coaching staff upon his arrival in Kansas City.
“The coaches do a good job of allowing me to go out there and play free [to] learn the offense. They did a good job with that when I first came in; it was just [about] teaching me the little things. And, you know, obviously, Pat as well.”
According to Hopkins, players also learn from each other — even if it involves a 12-year veteran learning from a rookie wideout like Xavier Worthy.
“We got first-year guys, [guys with] five, seven years — and myself at 12 years. So I feel like it’s definitely a [wide] age gap,” observed Hopkins. “But it’s been good. You know, we’ve all been working off each other. I ask Xavier [for advice]. I’m not a 4.2 [second] guy, but [I] definitely try to take some of his things in his bag and add it to my game as well.
“You can never be too good to learn or or ask questions. If they’re younger, they do the same for me.”
Another channel opened last week. Hollywood Brown — one of Hopkins’ teammates while with the Arizona Cardinals in 2022 — was designated for return from the Reserve/Injured list, allowing the wideout to return to the practice field.
“It’s been good,” said Hopkins of playing with Brown again. “Hollywood has played a lot in this league. I consider him a veteran receiver. So having the experience out there is good. [He’s] setting examples for the young guys out there — not just Xavier, but some of the practice squad guys as well.”
Brown won’t be the only old friend Hopkins will encounter this week. Hopkins spent the first seven years of his career with the Houston Texans, who are coming to Kansas City for a Week 16 matchup on Saturday. But now that he’s wearing...
