Dustin Hopkins

Dustin Hopkins's Biography

Born on October 1, 1990, Dustin Hopkins is an American professional football player. As a placekicker at present, he is a distinguished member of the Cleveland Browns team, which is part of the National Football League (NFL). Today, he is known for his exceptional skills and contribution to American football, which fetched him little recognition initially but later rendered him a spot in the National Football League.

In his early days, Hopkins was enrolled at Florida State University, where he played college football. His performance at that time was attention-catching, which led him to be drafted into the Buffalo Bills in the year 2013. During the time he played for the college, the coaching staff of Florida State began taking a keen interest in him, especially after Jody Allen, then Seminoles special teams coordinator, bore witness to Hopkins’s potential as he watched a game clip of him.

Hopkins’s performance also piqued the interest of Notre Dame. During his freshman year, in 2009, Hopkins made approximately 70% of his attempts at 27 field goals, successfully hitting 19 of them. His notable performance was observed on November 13, 2010, during a game against Clemson, Florida State. Despite trailing throughout the game, the team made a memorable comeback in the final quarter, credit to Hopkins’s 55-yard field goal, which sealed the victory with just three seconds remaining in the game.

In 2011, one of his most remarkable feats at Florida State University happened during a match against Wake Forest when Hopkins achieved his 109th successive PAT (Point After Touchdown). This propelled him into popularity, breaking the previous record set by Florida State. Hopkins broke another record on November 18, 2012, when he set an FBS (Football Bowl Subdivision) record of 442 points for maximum career points by a kicker, smashing a 26-yard field goal during the second quarter against Maryland Terrapins. He concluded the day by adding six more points, thus revising the record to 448 points.

Hopkins’s journey with the Buffalo Bills commenced when he was chosen during the sixth round with the overall 177th pick in the 2013 NFL drafts. Shortly after his selection, Hopkins signed a four-year contract with the Buffalo Bills. Within a few months of signing up, he was declared the starting placekicker, defeating the veteran Rian Lindell. Unfortunately, Hopkins sustained a groin injury that delayed the progress of his career.

In 2014, he re-contested for the roster spot under the Buffalo Bills, but was dismissed after losing the competition to Dan Carpenter. Towards the end of the year, Hopkins entered a future-reserve contract and was signed to the New Orleans Saints within their practice squad. Even though he put his best foot forward in the competition, Hopkins lost out to Zach Hocker.

Eventually, Hopkins was signed by the Washington Redskins in September 2015. From 2015 to 2022, Hopkins played under the Redskins and was noted for his memorable performances. During the 2016 season, he set a franchise record, making 34 field goals. Presently, people remember Hopkins for his noticeable performance in Week 13 of the 2020 season against the Pittsburgh Steelers, for which he received the title of NFC Special Teams Player of the Week. In 2021, his game-winning kick in a thrilling encounter against the New York Giants helped secure a win for Washington. Completing his tenure with the Redskins, he was signed by the Los Angeles Chargers in October later that year, where he continued his successful streak.

On August 28, 2023, a trade sent Hopkins to the Cleveland Browns in exchange for a 2025 seventh-round pick. The official announcement of Hopkins taking over from the 124th pick of 2022, Cade York, was made after the latter was let go due to his struggles during the preseason. Hopkins subsequently bagged the AFC Special Teams Player of the Week title on October 18, 2023.

Hopkins’s later career was not without setback: on December 24, 2023, he experienced a hamstring injury during the Browns’ 36-22 win over the Houston Texans. Subsequently, he was unable to finish the game with Riley Patterson brought from the Browns’ practice squad as a replacement the following day. Despite this, in July 2024, Hopkins extended his pledge to the Browns by signing a three-year contract extension.

Away from football, Hopkins firmly identifies with Christianity. He is wedded to Gabrielle Hopkins and is a proud father to their son, Wake. Despite the highs and lows of his career, Hopkins is deeply respected for his relentless contribution to American Football.