DeAndre Hopkins will have an introductory press conference on Friday, but his talents are already well known.
Hopkins leads all NFL active players in receiving yards (12,965) and is on the verge of 1,000 career receptions (984). On the field, he has shown the ability to get open. In life, he's shown strength and character to overcome obstacles.
Here are five things to know about Hopkins:
His mother's strength has inspired him.
Hopkins' mother, Sabrina Greenlee, is a survivor of domestic violence whose remarkable story has been a huge part of Hopkins' inspiration.
In 2002, a woman who was jealous over a man that Greenlee was dating splashed a mixture of bleach and lye onto her face. She nearly died and eventually lost her sight. But as her son found his calling in football, Greenlee found her calling as an advocate for victims of domestic violence.
She has written a book and Ravens fans can anticipate seeing her at M&T Bank Stadium. After scoring a touchdown, Hopkins likes to celebrate by locating his mother and handing her the football.
Hopkins was just an infant when his father died.
When Hopkins was five months old, his father passed away in an automobile accident.
That robbed him of memories with his dad, but Hopkins has some mementos. One of them is a mink coat that belonged to his father. When Hopkins reached the Super Bowl with the Kansas City Chiefs in February, he wore the coat to the game.
"I always said I would wear that mink jacket to my wedding, or to the Super Bowl, whichever one happened first," Hopkins said. "I'm not married, so I'm going to wear my Daddy's mink jacket."
Attention to fitness has led to durability.
Hopkins has played at least 15 games in 10 seasons. In his 12-year career, he has only missed 11 games due to injury.
Hopkins will turn 33 years old in June, but his durability has been a major strength. He maximizes his talent with a fierce work ethic and keeps himself in excellent condition by practicing healthy habits year-round.
He's also a student of the game who's open to advice. Early in his career, Hall of Fame receiver Cris Carter gave Hopkins tips on how to make his hands and fingers even more receptive to catching passes. Hopkins' Velcro-like hands are among the NFL's all-time best, just like Carter's.
Hopkins takes his craft seriously, but he's not all work and no play. When he was with the Texans, Hopkins released a comical workout video that didn't help him make plays, but it made viewers laugh.
He is a student of Black history.
Hopkins, a native of South Carolina, has taken a deep dive into Black history.
During the 2020 season following George Floyd's murder, Hopkins wore the name "Denmark Vesey" on his helmet. Vesey planned a slave revolt in Hopkins' home state more than 200 years ago, but Vesey's plans were discovered, and he was executed by hanging in 1822.
"Denmark is definitely somebody who was a leader in African American culture, led a revolt," Hopkins said in 2020 via Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com. "He's somebody who, I guess, stood out in his time and gave his life for something that he believed in, and that was equality. And obviously, his life was taken away for doing what was right.
"But being from South Carolina and him being from South Carolina, I think it's something that set with me, resonated with me, not just now but my whole life. It's something that they don't teach you in history books about people like that."
His production hasn't depended on his quarterback.
During his 12 NFL seasons, Hopkins has played with 18 different quarterbacks. The list consists of:
Matt Schaub, Case Keenum, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Ryan Mallett, Brian Hoyer, T.J. Yates, Brandon Weeden, Brock Osweiler, Tom Savage, Deshaun Watson, Kyler Murray, Colt McCoy, Trace McSorley, Will Levis, Ryan Tannehill, Malik Willis, Mason Rudolph, and Patrick Mahomes.
Fourteen of those quarterbacks have thrown touchdown passes to him.
Hopkins has played with a lot of quarterbacks, and he has excelled. But next season he'll play with Lamar Jackson, a two-time MVP who he believes will bring out his best.
