Brad Hopkins facts for kids
Hopkins with the Tennessee Titans
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| No. 72 | |||||||
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| Position: | Offensive tackle | ||||||
| Personal information | |||||||
| Born: | September 5, 1970 Columbia, South Carolina, U.S. |
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| Height: | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | ||||||
| Weight: | 305 lb (138 kg) | ||||||
| Career information | |||||||
| High school: | Moline (Moline, Illinois) | ||||||
| College: | Illinois (1989–1992) | ||||||
| NFL Draft: | 1993 / Round: 1 / Pick: 13 | ||||||
| Career history | |||||||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||
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Bradley D. Hopkins is a former American football player. He was born on September 5, 1970. Brad played as a left tackle for 13 seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He spent his entire professional career with the Houston Oilers and later the Tennessee Titans. Before joining the NFL, he played college football for the Illinois Fighting Illini.
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Brad Hopkins' Early Life
Brad Hopkins was a talented athlete at Moline High School in Illinois. He excelled in both football and basketball. In football, he played on both offense and defense. He was a defensive lineman and a tight end.
On the basketball court, Brad played power forward. He was teammates with Acie Earl, who later became a well-known college player and an NBA draft pick.
College Football Career
Brad Hopkins earned a scholarship to play football at the University of Illinois. He joined the team in 1989.
Freshman Year at Illinois
As a freshman, Brad was a backup offensive lineman. He helped protect future NFL star quarterback Jeff George. The team had a great season, winning nine games and losing only two. They played in the 1990 Florida Citrus Bowl.
Becoming a Starter
In his second year, Brad became a starting player. He started ten games as the left tackle. He protected quarterback Jason Verduzco. The Illini finished with eight wins and four losses. They tied for first place in their conference and played in the Hall of Fame Bowl.
The next season, in 1991, Brad started all 12 games. He continued to protect Jason Verduzco. For his excellent play, he was named to the All-Big Ten team.
Senior Season and All-American Honors
For his senior year in 1992, Brad was chosen as a team captain. He started all 12 games at left tackle. He was recognized as an All-American player and again made the All-Big Ten team. The Illini played in the 1992 Holiday Bowl.
Brad Hopkins graduated from the University of Illinois with a degree in Speech Communications.
Professional Football Career
Brad Hopkins was a top player coming out of college. He was known for his strength and skill as an offensive lineman.
| Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand size | 40-yard dash | 10-yard split | 20-yard split | 20-yard shuttle | Vertical jump | Broad jump | Bench press |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 ft 3+3⁄8 in (1.91 m) |
306 lb (139 kg) |
33+5⁄8 in (0.85 m) |
9+1⁄2 in (0.24 m) |
5.19 s | 1.82 s | 3.03 s | 4.63 s | 27.0 in (0.69 m) |
8 ft 10 in (2.69 m) |
18 reps |
Joining the Houston Oilers
In 1993, the Houston Oilers picked Brad Hopkins in the first round of the 1993 NFL draft. As a rookie, he started eleven games as a left tackle. He was named to several All-Rookie teams for his strong performance.
Brad became a key player for the Oilers. He started every game for several seasons, from 1995 to 1997, and again in 1999. He helped block for star running back Eddie George.
Super Bowl Appearance
In 1999, the team, now called the Tennessee Titans, made it to Super Bowl XXXIV. Brad Hopkins started in this big game. However, the Titans lost to the St. Louis Rams, led by quarterback Kurt Warner.
Pro Bowl Selections
In 2000, Brad Hopkins had an amazing season. He was chosen to play in the Pro Bowl, which is an honor for top players. He started almost every game for the Titans. He was part of an offensive line that protected the quarterback very well. This allowed running back Eddie George to gain over 1,500 yards. The Titans won their division with a 13–3 record.
Brad continued to be a strong starter for the Titans. In 2003, he earned another trip to the Pro Bowl. This was his fifth season starting all sixteen games. The Titans offense was very powerful that year, scoring many points.
Retirement from Football
Brad Hopkins announced his retirement from professional football on June 14, 2006. He and quarterback Steve McNair were the last players remaining from the original Houston Oilers team.
Life After Football
After retiring, Brad Hopkins became a football analyst. He works for SiriusXM, talking about college and NFL games.
Brad is also the father of Brycen Hopkins, who plays tight end for the Los Angeles Rams.
