Cardinals’ Hopkins won’t see any of $5.7 million in Jordan Brand exposure

Arizona Cardinals wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins made the team’s play of the year thus far in Sunday’s 32-30 win over the Buffalo Bills at State Farm Stadium.

With 11 seconds left and the Cardinals trailing 30-26, quarterback Kyler Murray rolled out to his left and heaved up a prayer of a pass.

The Hail Murray was brought down by the big paws of Hopkins, who was wearing noticeably different gloves than the other three Bills defenders’ attempting to break up the game-winner.

And due to the walk-off play going viral around the world, Jordan Brand got $5.7 million in TV, print and social media exposure, according to Apex Marketing.

But despite Hopkins repping the Jordan gloves, he is not currently a Nike athlete and won’t see a dime of that money, according to Sportico’s Randall Williams.

Now compare that to then-New York Giants wideout Odell Beckham Jr.’s one-handed catch in 2014 that helped Nike get at least $2.2 million in media exposure, according to Front Row Analytics. Beckham Jr., now with the Cleveland Browns, has maintained his status as a Nike athlete.

Since then, Nike has released special-edition cleats, hats and shoes under the OBJ umbrella.

Hopkins became the face of the adizero franchise after signing a multi-year deal with Adidas in 2016.

However, there have been no social media posts from Adidas, Nike or Jordan of the Cardinals wide receiver, who was an Adidas athlete until earlier this year.

Hopkins has been seen wearing Jordan cleats in 2020.

Nike’s football athletes include Beckham Jr., Russell Wilson, Aaron Donald, Saquon Barkley and Christian McCaffrey.

“It’s funny, all I saw were black gloves arising from everybody,” Murray said via Zoom after the game. “It was a group of four people and all I saw were black gloves, so I’m just glad he caught the ball.”

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