Jerry Hopkins, a linebacker who wrapped up his professional football career with the Oakland Raiders during the American Football League’s final seasons, has died. He was 85.
Hopkins passed away on July 27. He had played for three AFL teams in the league’s early years before the merger with the NFL.
Born on Jan. 24, 1941, in Chalk Bluff, Texas, Hopkins built a strong foundation in the sport from a young age. At Mart High School near Waco, he stood out as a guard and earned all-state recognition. He helped lead the team to a state co-championship and later received induction into the Texas High School Football Hall of Fame in 2003 for his contributions on the field.
He moved on to Texas A&M, where he suited up as both a center and a linebacker under head coach Jim Myers. In his senior year of 1962, Hopkins served as a team co-captain. He earned first-team All-Southwest Conference honors at center and led the Aggies with three interceptions from the linebacker spot that season.
Hopkins left college with a degree in business administration and entered the pro ranks. The Houston Oilers picked him in the fourth round of the 1963 AFL Draft, but the team released him before the regular season began. He then signed with the Denver Broncos and stayed there for four seasons, playing in 49 games from 1963 through 1966.
With the Broncos, Hopkins became a reliable presence on defense. In 1964, he started all but one game and recorded a team-high eight sacks along with two interceptions. He moved between middle and outside linebacker roles during his time in Denver and finished with three interceptions overall while helping solidify the unit in those formative AFL years.
In 1967, Hopkins joined the expansion Miami Dolphins and appeared in 13 games for the young franchise. The following year, he finished his playing days with the Oakland Raiders.
Hopkins saw action in five games for the Raiders in 1968. In that final AFL season, he recovered two fumbles as the team continued building its reputation as a tough competitor in the league. His brief stint in Oakland marked the end of a professional career that spanned the AFL’s competitive landscape across multiple cities.
After hanging up his cleats, Hopkins headed back to Texas. There, he owned and ran the Hopkins Oil Company, shifting his focus from the gridiron to business pursuits in his home state.
He is survived by his wife, Joan, their two children, one grandchild and one sister. Family and friends remember him not only for his athletic accomplishments but for the steady path he followed after football.
Hopkins’ journey from small-town Texas high school standout to multi-team AFL veteran reflected the grit required in the league’s early days. His contributions with the Raiders, though limited in games, added to a resume that included consistent defensive work earlier in Denver and a role with the fledgling Dolphins.
Throughout his career, he adapted to different positions and schemes, showing versatility that coaches valued in an era when the AFL was still carving out its identity against the established NFL. From the Texas High School Football Hall of Fame recognition to his pro stops, Hopkins left a mark as a dependable player who competed hard until the end of his time on the field.
His post-football life in the oil business allowed him to stay rooted in Texas, where his football roots first took hold. Those who followed the Raiders during that 1968 season saw a veteran bringing experience from prior AFL campaigns to a roster aiming for success.
Hopkins’ story stands as a reminder of the many players who helped shape the AFL before the leagues came together.
His death closes a chapter on a career that touched several franchises, with the Raiders serving as the final stop in a path that began under the Friday night lights of Mart High School and carried him through college and the pros.
