DeAndre Hopkins on Texans firing Bill O’Brien: ‘I wish bad on no one’

DeAndre Hopkins joined the Arizona Cardinals in a lopsided-looking trade, and it very well could be one of the final straws that ended the Bill O’Brien era in Houston.

The Texans fired O’Brien, the head coach and general manager, on Tuesday after the team’s 0-4 start. Yet the final, final straw to end his tenure might have been an argument O’Brien got into with star defensive tackle J.J. Watt and defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver, as reported by the Houston Chronicle’s Aaron Wilson, among others.

Hopkins was asked Wednesday about his thoughts on Houston relieving O’Brien, and the receiver didn’t wade into controversy.

“Of course I seen it. It was all over the internet,” Hopkins said. “Lot of memes and stuff included me in it, my name, but I wish bad on no one. Everyone in the NFL just wants to win a championship … some people aren’t able to do those things sometimes.

“I’m sure that hopefully he can have success somewhere else.”

Wish bad on no man.

— Deandre Hopkins (@DeAndreHopkins) October 6, 2020

That response was a relatively tame one, but it wasn’t surprising considering Hopkins has tried to move on from his time in Houston.

When Hall of Fame receiver Michael Irvin revealed on TV this March that O’Brien allegedly compared Hopkins to former tight end Aaron Hernandez, who was charged with first-degree murder, Hopkins downplayed any issues with the Texans coach and GM.

Meanwhile, Houston’s Watt appeared to celebrate the coaching change Tuesday. He posted the sun shining on the Texans’ field early after the firing was made official.

pic.twitter.com/8oKQUmECnG

— JJ Watt (@JJWatt) October 6, 2020

The Cardinals acquired Hopkins in March with an exchange of draft picks and by sending running back David Johnson to the Texans.

The trade got set in motion because Hopkins reportedly wanted to hold out if the Texans did not give him a lucrative contract extension. Houston, according to ESPN’s Dianna Russini, wanted to keep money in the bank with extensions due to quarterback Deshaun Watson and tackle Laremy Tunsil.

Hopkins instead got traded and got his extension, which was finalized with the Cardinals in September. The self-negotiated, two-year deal keeps him in Arizona through 2024 and added up to $54.5 million onto his current contract.

He’s been worth the money so far. Through four games, Hopkins leads the NFL with 39 catches and has tallied 397 yards with a touchdown.

Meanwhile, for the Texans, Johnson has 51 rushing attempts for three touchdowns and 197 yards (3.9 yards per carry), plus nine receptions for 100 yards. Houston’s rushing attack is last at 73.5 yards per game and tied for third-worst with 3.7 yards per carry.

Follow @kzimmermanaz