Brad Hopkins
Encyclopedia
Bradley D. Hopkins is a former American football
player. He played left tackle for 13 seasons in the National Football League
, all of them with the Houston Oilers/Tennessee Titans
organization.
, lettering in football as well as basketball. In football, Hopkins played on both offense and defense, playing on the defensive line as well as at tight end. In basketball, Hopkins played power forward, and was in the same lineup as future Iowa
shot-blocker and NBA first-round draft pick Acie Earl
.
and was recruited by John Mackovic
. As a freshman, Hopkins was a reserve offensive lineman, blocking for future NFL overall first pick Jeff George
. George guided the Illini to the 1990 Florida Citrus Bowl
against the Virginia Cavaliers
after a 9-2 record, second only to the Michigan Wolverines
in the Big Ten Conference.
His sophomore year, Hopkins became a starter, and started ten games at Left Tackle for quarterback Jason Verduzco. The Illini posted a 8-4 record, tied for first in the Big Ten and went to the Hall of Fame Bowl losing to the Clemson Tigers
. The following season in 1991 Hopkins started all twelve games once again protecting Verduzco, and received All-Big Ten Honors. The team posted a 6-6 record, good for fifth place in the Big Ten, and a trip to the John Hancock Bowl.
His senior year, Hopkins was selected team captain by first-year coach Lou Tepper
, along with John Wright and Steven Mueller. He started all twelve games at left tackle and was named All-American as well as All-Big Ten. The Illini played in the Holiday Bowl
, finishing with a 6-5-1 season.
Hopkins graduated from University of Illinois
with a degree in Speech Communications.
by the Houston Oilers
. In his rookie season, Hopkins started eleven games at left tackle and was named first-Team All-Rookie by several organizations.http://www.nflplayers.com/players/player.aspx?id=20032
Hopkins started all sixteen games for the Oilers for the 1995, 1996, 1997, and 1999 seasons, blocking for fellow Big Ten alumnus Eddie George
. In 1999, the Titans made it to Super Bowl XXXIV
losing to the Kurt Warner
-led St. Louis Rams
.
In 2000, Hopkins earned a trip to the Pro Bowl
, starting in all but one game for the Tennessee Titans
. Hopkins was part of an offensive line that allowed the third-lowest number of sacks in the NFL, and George gained over 1500 yards rushing. That season, the Titans finished with a 13-3 record, winning the AFC Central Division, but lost to the Baltimore Ravens
in the first round of the playoffs.
Hopkins continued starting for the Titans, and earned another trip to the Pro Bowl in 2003, starting all sixteen games for the fifth time in his career. The Titans were propelled by a high-powered offense with Steve McNair
and Eddie George
, which scored 30 points in six consecutive games - a franchise record.
He announced his retirement from football on June 14, 2006. Along with Steve McNair
, he was the last player left from the Houston Oilers. He was also the last player left who was involved with the Herschel Walker trade
.
He currently works as a sports radio personality for WPRT-FM in Nashville
.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
player. He played left tackle for 13 seasons in the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
, all of them with the Houston Oilers/Tennessee Titans
Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans are a professional American football team based in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. They are members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Previously known as the Houston Oilers, the team began play in 1960 as a charter...
organization.
Early years
Hopkins was an outstanding two-sport athlete at Moline High SchoolMoline High School
Moline High School, or Moline, is a public four-year high school located in Moline, Illinois, a city in Rock Island County, in the United States...
, lettering in football as well as basketball. In football, Hopkins played on both offense and defense, playing on the defensive line as well as at tight end. In basketball, Hopkins played power forward, and was in the same lineup as future Iowa
University of Iowa
The University of Iowa is a public state-supported research university located in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. It is the oldest public university in the state. The university is organized into eleven colleges granting undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees...
shot-blocker and NBA first-round draft pick Acie Earl
Acie Earl
Acie Boyd Earl is a retired American professional basketball player, who appeared in four NBA seasons, as a 6'10" center.-High school/college:...
.
College
Brad received a scholarship to play football for the Illinois Fighting IlliniIllinois Fighting Illini
The Fighting Illini are the intercollegiate athletic teams of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The University offers 10 men's and 11 women's varsity sports....
and was recruited by John Mackovic
John Mackovic
John Mackovic is an American football coach and former player. He is currently the head coach of United States national American football team, which was formed to compete in the American Football World Cup...
. As a freshman, Hopkins was a reserve offensive lineman, blocking for future NFL overall first pick Jeff George
Jeff George
Jeffrey Scott "Jeff" George is a former American football quarterback. He was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts with the first overall pick of the 1990 NFL Draft...
. George guided the Illini to the 1990 Florida Citrus Bowl
Capital One Bowl
The Capital One Bowl is an annual college football bowl game played in Orlando, Florida at the Citrus Bowl, and previously known as the Tangerine Bowl and the Florida Citrus Bowl...
against the Virginia Cavaliers
Virginia Cavaliers
The Virginia Cavaliers, also known as Wahoos or Hoos, are the athletic teams officially representing the University of Virginia in college sports. The Cavaliers compete in 25 NCAA Division I varsity sports and are members of the Atlantic Coast Conference...
after a 9-2 record, second only to the Michigan Wolverines
Michigan Wolverines
The Michigan Wolverines comprise 27 varsity sports teams at the University of Michigan. These teams compete in the NCAA's Division I and in the Big Ten Conference in all sports except men's ice hockey which competes in the NCAA D1 Central Collegiate Hockey Association, and women's water polo, which...
in the Big Ten Conference.
His sophomore year, Hopkins became a starter, and started ten games at Left Tackle for quarterback Jason Verduzco. The Illini posted a 8-4 record, tied for first in the Big Ten and went to the Hall of Fame Bowl losing to the Clemson Tigers
Clemson Tigers
The Clemson Tigers are any team that represents Clemson University as a member of the NCAA's Division I or in the Atlantic Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference....
. The following season in 1991 Hopkins started all twelve games once again protecting Verduzco, and received All-Big Ten Honors. The team posted a 6-6 record, good for fifth place in the Big Ten, and a trip to the John Hancock Bowl.
His senior year, Hopkins was selected team captain by first-year coach Lou Tepper
Lou Tepper
Lou Tepper is an American football coach and former player. He was the head football coach at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, a position he has held since the 2006 season. Previously, tepper served as the head coach at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and Edinboro University of...
, along with John Wright and Steven Mueller. He started all twelve games at left tackle and was named All-American as well as All-Big Ten. The Illini played in the Holiday Bowl
Holiday Bowl
The Holiday Bowl is a post-season NCAA-sanctioned Division I-A college football bowl game that has been played annually at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California, since 1978. Beginning with the 2010 playing the bowl will officially be known as the Bridgepoint Education Holiday Bowl after...
, finishing with a 6-5-1 season.
Hopkins graduated from University of Illinois
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
The University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign is a large public research-intensive university in the state of Illinois, United States. It is the flagship campus of the University of Illinois system...
with a degree in Speech Communications.
Professional
Hopkins was selected in the first round of the 1993 NFL Draft1993 NFL Draft
The 1993 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 25-26, 1993...
by the Houston Oilers
Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans are a professional American football team based in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. They are members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Previously known as the Houston Oilers, the team began play in 1960 as a charter...
. In his rookie season, Hopkins started eleven games at left tackle and was named first-Team All-Rookie by several organizations.http://www.nflplayers.com/players/player.aspx?id=20032
Hopkins started all sixteen games for the Oilers for the 1995, 1996, 1997, and 1999 seasons, blocking for fellow Big Ten alumnus Eddie George
Eddie George
Edward Nathan "Eddie" George, Jr. is a former American football running back in the National Football League. He played for the Tennessee Titans both in Tennessee and in Houston when the franchise was known as the Houston Oilers, and spent his final season with the Dallas Cowboys...
. In 1999, the Titans made it to Super Bowl XXXIV
Super Bowl XXXIV
Super Bowl XXXIV featured the National Football Conference champion St. Louis Rams and the American Football Conference champion Tennessee Titans in an American football game to decide the National Football League champion for the 1999 regular season...
losing to the Kurt Warner
Kurt Warner
Kurtis Eugene "Kurt" Warner is a retired American football player. He played quarterback for three National Football League teams: the St. Louis Rams, the New York Giants, and the Arizona Cardinals. He was originally signed by the Green Bay Packers as an undrafted free agent in 1994 after playing...
-led St. Louis Rams
St. Louis Rams
The St. Louis Rams are a professional American football team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are currently members of the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Rams have won three NFL Championships .The Rams began playing in 1936 in Cleveland,...
.
In 2000, Hopkins earned a trip to the Pro Bowl
Pro Bowl
In professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League . Since the merger with the rival American Football League in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC–NFC Pro Bowl, matching the top players in the American Football Conference against those...
, starting in all but one game for the Tennessee Titans
Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans are a professional American football team based in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. They are members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Previously known as the Houston Oilers, the team began play in 1960 as a charter...
. Hopkins was part of an offensive line that allowed the third-lowest number of sacks in the NFL, and George gained over 1500 yards rushing. That season, the Titans finished with a 13-3 record, winning the AFC Central Division, but lost to the Baltimore Ravens
Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens are a professional football franchise based in Baltimore, Maryland.The Baltimore Ravens are officially a quasi-expansion franchise, having originated in 1995 with the Cleveland Browns relocation controversy after Art Modell, then owner of the Cleveland Browns, announced his...
in the first round of the playoffs.
Hopkins continued starting for the Titans, and earned another trip to the Pro Bowl in 2003, starting all sixteen games for the fifth time in his career. The Titans were propelled by a high-powered offense with Steve McNair
Steve McNair
Stephen LaTreal McNair was an American football quarterback who spent the majority of his NFL career with the Tennessee Titans....
and Eddie George
Eddie George
Edward Nathan "Eddie" George, Jr. is a former American football running back in the National Football League. He played for the Tennessee Titans both in Tennessee and in Houston when the franchise was known as the Houston Oilers, and spent his final season with the Dallas Cowboys...
, which scored 30 points in six consecutive games - a franchise record.
He announced his retirement from football on June 14, 2006. Along with Steve McNair
Steve McNair
Stephen LaTreal McNair was an American football quarterback who spent the majority of his NFL career with the Tennessee Titans....
, he was the last player left from the Houston Oilers. He was also the last player left who was involved with the Herschel Walker trade
Herschel Walker trade
The Herschel Walker trade, also known as "The Great Train Robbery", was the largest player trade in the history of the National Football League. It involved 18 players and draft picks...
.
He currently works as a sports radio personality for WPRT-FM in Nashville
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
.
External links
- http://www.nflplayers.com/players/player.aspx?id=20032
- http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/HopkBr00.htm