DeAndre Hopkins cleared the air during his viral celebration, which sent Taylor Swift and Chiefs fans into a frenzy during an overtime win over the Buccaneers at home.
The 14-time Grammy winner jumped for joy in Arrowhead’s VIP suite when Hopkins scored a touchdown with 4:05 left in the first half Monday night.
After reaching the end zone, the wide receiver celebrated with the “Remember the Titans” dance along with Travis Kelce and other teammates.
While many took the celebration as a jab at his former team in Tennessee after trading him to Kansas City, Hopkins confirmed it was an ode to his old club.
“It was a shout out to Tennessee, if you know me you know it’s nothing but love for Nashville,” Hopkins wrote on X. “Ran and his team are like family. Without them I wouldn’t be here.’
DeAndre Hopkins broke his silence Monday during his “Remember the Titans” celebration
Hopkins made an impressive 35-yard catch on a pass from Patrick Mahomes in the red zone and caught a short pass for the touchdown before referencing the 2000 Disney movie during his celebration.
The Titans traded Hopkins to the Chiefs in late October for a conditional fifth-rounder in 2025. The pick could be upgraded to a fourth-rounder, with Tennessee paying about half of Hopkins’ remaining salary.
Hopkins made his debut for the defending Super Bowl champions in a win over the Las Vegas Raiders on October 27.
However, he made his presence felt Monday night with a two-touchdown performance in one of Kansas City’s most challenging wins so far this season.
The Clemson product caught eight of nine targets for 86 yards to contribute to the win.
Hopkins was drafted by the Texans with the 27th overall pick in 2013 and remained with Houston through 2019. He then had a three-year stint in Arizona before starting two seasons with the Titans.
The Chiefs have now won eight games in a row and remain undefeated this season. Kareem Hunt and Samaje Perine also contributed touchdowns to keep their perfect record intact.
Patrick Mahomes and Co. hope to carry the momentum from the win as they prepare for Denver on Nov. 10 and Buffalo on Nov. 17.