The buzz around DeAndre Hopkins is that he is joining the coaching staff at Georgia Tech.
The school announced the news on Friday, July 31 that the NFL star and former Clemson standout will be an assistant wide receivers coach for the Yellow Jackets.
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“DeAndre is one of the greatest receivers of all-time, but his value to our program goes far beyond the that,” Georgia Tech head football coach Brent Key said on the team’s website. “He has an exceptional knowledge of what we’re doing on offense due his long relationship with (offensive coordinator) George Godsey and strong familiarity with the ACC, but most importantly, he’s a leader of men that I’m very excited for our players to be around, on and off the field.”
A day after the school announced his coaching position, Hopkins, who is currently a free agent, posted about his new role on X and gave clarity on his status in the NFL.
“I Haven’t retired from the @NFL,” he said. “… But if you’re a WR and you want to be great, come to @GeorgiaTechFB.”
Hopkins was with the New England Patriots this offseason taking notes from the sidelines from his former Tennessee Titans head coach, Mike Vrabel.
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“It was a great experience for I think all of us,” Vrabel said during a press conference after practice on Thursday, July 30, noting Hopkins’ time with the Patriots had ended. “And I think that’s what we try to do when you have some of these unique situations where a player or a former player or whatever it may be wants to come in and help and learn and they love football and so I think it was good for everybody.”
Hopkins knows Godsey from when the coach was with the Houston Texans for three years. He oversaw the quarterbacks and then was the offensive coordinator while the wide receiver was on the team. Hopkins was selected in the first round of the 2013 NFL Draft out of Clemson by the Texans. The South Carolina native spent seven years there and he was named first-team All-Pro three times, selected to four Pro Bowls and became the franchise’s second-leading wideout with 8,602 receiving yards.
Besides the Texans and Titans, Hopkins also spent time with the Arizona Cardinals, Kansas City Chiefs and Baltimore Ravens.
In his time at Clemson, Hopkins went 2-1 against Georgia Tech. His best game was a 47-31 win his junior year when he had seven catches for 173 yards and two touchdowns. In his three years with the Tigers, he amassed 3,020 receiving yards, which is second best in team history. He holds program records for receiving touchdowns in a single season (18) and career (27). He was part of the 2011 team that won Clemson’s first ACC championship since 1991 and was inducted into the school’s Hall of Fame in 2025.
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The Ramblin’ Wreck went 9-4 last season and finished sixth in the ACC.
Contributing: Tia Reid
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: DeAndre Hopkins named assistant coach at ACC foe Georgia Tech
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