Wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins signed a two-year, $26 million contract with the Tennessee Titans on July 24, nearly two months after being released by the Arizona Cardinals. He reached out to several teams between those dates, hoping to join a short list of organizations that he had grown to admire.
The San Francisco 49ers were on that list.
The others included the New York Giants, Detroit Lions, and Dallas Cowboys.
"There were some teams that I had on my list that I gave them calls, and they didn't give a call back," Hopkins told GQ Sports. "... Detroit Lions, they didn't want me. Dallas Cowboys didn't want me. Giants didn't want me. Sh-t. Who else ain't want me? San Fran ain't want me."
Ultimately, Hopkins believes things worked out for the best, receiving a nice payday with the Titans. The receiver will remember those teams that turned him away, though.
"I'm very grateful for where I am; I think I made the best decision," Hopkins said. "But when you're a player, and some people feel like they're great without you, and then you see what they have on paper, or you see what they do, you mark those games down, as a competitor. I can't wait to play 'em and, honestly, try my best to crush they ass."
While Hopkins' last team faced the 49ers twice per season, San Francisco and Tennessee aren't on each others' schedules during the upcoming season. Hopkins has surpassed 1,000 receiving yards in six of his 10 NFL seasons but hasn't done so since 2020.
H/t to Ari Meirov of The 33rd Team for the find.