Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins has come to the defense of his quarterback, Patrick Mahomes, after critics labeled him a “villain.” Hopkins, who joined the Chiefs in October 2024, spoke out against the narrative that Mahomes and the Chiefs receive preferential treatment from NFL officials. 
“Everybody has to choose a team they go against or that they feel is getting help from someone,” Hopkins told The Athletic after the Chiefs’ 32-29 victory against the Buffalo Bills in the AFC title game. “Everybody has to choose a villain, and it’s easy to choose someone who’s winning as much as our guy is.” Hopkins drew parallels between Mahomes and other sports legends, such as Michael Jordan and Tom Brady, who were also criticized for their success.
Hopkins cited the 1998 NBA Finals, where Jordan allegedly pushed off Utah Jazz player Byron Russell to hit a series-clinching shot, as an example of how greatness can breed resentment. “Why do people still talk about M.J. pushing off almost 30 years later?” Hopkins asked. “Because he’s one of the greatest ever to do it, and when he won his sixth [NBA championship], people were tired of watching him win.”
Mahomes and the Chiefs are gearing up for Super Bowl LIX against the Philadelphia Eagles, where they will attempt to become the first team in NFL history to win three consecutive Super Bowls. Despite the criticism, Mahomes remains focused on his team’s achievements. “It’s just so hard to get to the Super Bowl, and I don’t take it for granted,” Mahomes told reporters after the AFC title game. “When we needed the defense to get stops, they got stops. Offense, we made plays. That’s why we’re so special.”
With Hopkins and the rest of the Chiefs rallying behind him, Mahomes is poised to lead his team to another historic victory. As Hopkins said, “It’s easy to choose someone who’s winning as much as our guy is” as a villain, but for the Chiefs, Mahomes is a hero.
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