After seven seasons in Houston, the Texans made the stunning decision to trade Hopkins to the Arizona Cardinals for running back David Johnson and a couple of draft picks. It’s a move that the Texans would come to regret – Johnson was off the team after two middling seasons, one draft pick was traded away and another didn’t pan out.

Hopkins pulled himself out of a 34-10 loss to the Bills on Oct. 20 — sensing that Tennessee’s season was careening toward the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft — and was traded within days.

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.