With a month to go before NFL free agency begins, now's a good time to check in on what some former Houston Texans are up to this offseason.
One former Texan who's recently been making headlines is none other than De'Andre Hopkins, who just made his Super Bowl debut with the Kansas City Chiefs. Unfortunately, the five-time Pro Bowl wideout's debut didn't go as planned as the Chiefs fell 40-22 to the Philadelphia Eagles beneath the bright New Orleans lights.
After the Chiefs' loss, fans are wondering if Hopkins' time in the NFL is over. Not only will he be a free agent next month, but he will also be turning 33 years old in June, meaning it wouldn't be a surprise if he decided to call it a career.
Texans News: DeAndre Hopkins Doesn't Plan to Retire in 2025
Following the Super Bowl loss, Hopkins took to social media to reveal that any rumors of a potential retirement had been greatly exaggerated.
"Don't know where you heard but I'm not done yet," Hopkins said in a now-deleted X post (h/t @SportsRadio 810).
DHop isn't done yet 💪#Chiefs l #ChiefsKingdom pic.twitter.com/GJk26ydLwn
— Sports Radio 810 WHB (@SportsRadio810) February 11, 2025
Even though Hopkins didn't win his first championship ring, it's clear that his first Super Bowl appearance has motivated him enough to play at least one more season. The 32-year-old playmaker will be a free agent next month, though, meaning it remains to be seen if his career will continue in Kansas City or elsewhere.
Hopkins was drafted 27th overall by the Texans in 2013 and it didn't take him long to become an H-town fan favorite. The former Clemson Tiger cemented himself as one of the NFL's top WRs during his Houston tenure, converting 632 receptions into 8,602 receiving yards and 54 touchdowns while reaching four Pro Bowls and receiving All-Pro first-team honors three times in seven seasons.
Hopkins' time with the Texans ended in March 2020 when he — along with a fourth-round pick — was traded to the Arizona Cardinals in exchange for running back David Johnson and two draft selections. He's since played parts of five seasons with the Cardinals, Chiefs, and Tennessee Titans, posting a 352-4,363-29 stat line in 68 games spread across the three franchises.
His best days are behind him, but Hopkins is still decent enough that he'll likely receive some attention in free agency. Even though his latest playoff performance left much to be desired, the fact that he tallied 437 yards and four TDs in 10 regular-season games after joining the Chiefs shows that he can still be a useful WR3/4 in the right offense.
So, does that mean a reunion with the Texans could be in the cards this offseason? Houston could benefit from adding another reliable receiver behind Nico Collins and Tank Dell, and Hopkins could fit that bill — especially in a role where he wouldn't garner as much coverage as the aforementioned duo.
Texans fans don't have to wait long to see if they should dust off their old Hopkins jerseys. The 2025 NFL free agency period will officially begin on Wednesday, March 12.