“He’s just going to go and do his best and be his best.” That’s Sabrina Greenlee for you. A survivor. A warrior. The mother who raised DeAndre Hopkins alone after an acid attack left her blind. She fought, she endured, and she made sure her son had every opportunity to chase his dreams. But through it all, there was always a presence—a father Hopkins never truly knew but never forgot.

DeAndre Hopkins was just five months old when his father died in a car crash. The man left behind a few things, but one stood out—a mink jacket. Hopkins always said he’d wear it to either his wedding or the Super Bowl, whichever came first.

Today, as he steps onto the biggest stage of his life, he’s wearing it. But this isn’t just about style. It’s about legacy. That jacket carries more than warmth—it carries the weight of his father’s memory and the sacrifices of his mother, who raised him alone after surviving a brutal acid attack.

“My dad died in 1992 and he left me a couple things,” Hopkins said during Super Bowl media week. “And so I always said I would wear that mink jacket to my wedding or the Super Bowl, whichever one happened first. And so obviously, I’m not married, so I’m gonna wear my daddy’s mink jacket, dawg.” Hopkins’ father, Steve, was a big personality in their South Carolina town—a flashy dresser and local kingpin. But his life took a tragic turn, ending in a fatal car accident when he hydroplaned one rainy afternoon. Though DeAndre barely knew him, he’s inherited Steve’s unique tastes and quirks. And his fashion sense. Which he proudly showed off today.

With that, he strolled off the team bus, stepping into history.

But this isn’t just for his father. Not only for his mother. NO! Instead, it’s for everyone who helped him get here. “It’s not just my mom. It’s my little sister and my aunt… Everyone who’s helped me along this way and encouraged me to kind of keep going and always keep my head up,” Hopkins said. “Been in some tough places and they were there supporting me as well.” Tonight, he’s not just playing for a ring. He’s playing for them.

DeAndre Hopkins has a simple message for the Eagles

DeAndre Hopkins has done it all—three-time All-Pro, five-time Pro Bowler, and the highest-paid receiver in league history (twice). But for 11 seasons, he was the guy on teams that never got anywhere close to the ultimate goal. “I’ve been that No. 1 receiver and I’ve never won,” Hopkins said. Well, that’s changed. Now, he’s a CHIEF. And for the first time, he’s finally playing for a winner.

But here’s the twist—Hopkins hasn’t been lighting up the stat sheet. One catch for 11 yards in the postseason? Not exactly WR1 numbers. No 100-yard games with the Chiefs? Unheard of for a guy like him. And yet, he’s been grinning all week leading up to Super Bowl LIX. “I’m not the type of receiver who’s a diva,” he said. “I don’t want catches. I just want to win.” That’s the mindset of a man who’s been carrying an offense for over a decade, only to realize the weight doesn’t have to be all on him anymore.

Hopkins landed in Kansas City after a midseason trade from Tennessee, where he was stuck on a struggling Titans squad. The Chiefs sent a conditional fifth-round pick for him—highway robbery for a future Hall of Famer. But his role in this offense isn’t what anyone expected. Less production, fewer targets, but a massive impact. “I knew we were getting a good player,” Andy Reid said. Turns out, Hopkins isn’t just here to run routes—he’s here to rubber stamp that belief Coach showed in him.

So, what’s his role in the Super Bowl? Maybe he’s a red-zone weapon. Maybe he gets a few underneath looks against an Eagles defense that hates giving up big plays. Or maybe he doesn’t do much at all. And guess what? He’s fine with that. “It’s actually been great that you don’t have to carry the team yourself,” Hopkins said. “Hopefully, [my kids] can play on the confetti after.” The message is clear: He’s done chasing personal stats. He’s here for a ring. And the Eagles are just in the way.