DeAndre Hopkins’ mother recalls 2002 acid attack that left her blind and nearly cost her life, a story that helped shape the NFL star’s rise
Sabrina Greenlee, the mother of NFL wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins, opens up about the horrific acid attack that upended her life in 2002 in ESPN’s new docuseries The Kingdom, which offers an inside look at the Chiefs’ enduring dynasty. Greenlee says she believed she would die as the attack unfolded, a moment she says tested the bond with her children and sculpted the man Hopkins would become.
The episode revisits the sequence that began with Greenlee realizing her car was missing, followed by a call from her then-boyfriend directing her to a home where the car could be retrieved. An argument erupted, and another woman dumped what Greenlee described as a “concoction” on her body, inflicting burns on her face, neck, and back. ESPN has noted that Greenlee was doused with a mixture of bleach and lye, a combination that caused her skin to blister and peel. “The skin instantly falls off of my body,” she recalls in The Kingdom, and in the moment she feared she was facing certain death.
Greenlee spent about a month in a coma and then began the long process of recovery, including relearning how to walk. DeAndre Hopkins, who was 10 at the time, remembers the day he first saw his mother after she returned from the hospital, her face still wrapped. “And I just remember seeing her eyes and how different they were,” he said on screen. The attack also left Greenlee hesitant to go out in public for years because of visible scars, though Hopkins would later coax her back to games and public life, dreaming of the moment she could cheer him on again.
The assailant, Savannah Carlita Grant, was sentenced to 20 years in prison for assault and battery with the intent to kill. The boyfriend involved in the incident was not charged.
Hopkins has often credited his mother as the backbone of his success. Greenlee, who raised Hopkins and his three siblings as a single mother after their father died in a car crash, says her son became “the man of the house” at a very young age. He would read to her and describe what was on television, and she instilled in him the belief that hardship wouldn’t define them. “This doesn’t define us” became a guiding motto.
Football-wise, Hopkins has built a storied career with five Pro Bowl selections and three All-Pro nods, as well as ranking among the Texans’ all-time leaders in receiving yards. Last season, he spent most of his time with the Kansas City Chiefs after being traded from Tennessee, reaching the Super Bowl before falling to the Philadelphia Eagles. He then moved on in the offseason, signing with the Baltimore Ravens. Even as his NFL journey continues, the close bond with his mother remains a constant source of inspiration.
Greenlee’s courage and Hopkins’s devotion to his family are highlighted in The Kingdom, which ESPN describes as an intimate portrayal of the Chiefs’ dynasty and the people who helped make it possible. The emotional moments—like Greenlee’s tears after the Chiefs’ AFC Championship win and Hopkins’s reflections on how her sacrifice shaped his path—offer a powerful reminder of resilience, faith, and family in the face of adversity.
Editor’s note and added context:
– This piece highlights a deeply personal origin story that dovetails with Hopkins’s public success, offering readers a fuller picture of the support system behind a veteran star.
– Potential follow-up angles: how personal adversity influences elite performance; the role of family support in high-pressure athletic careers; updates on Hopkins’s performance with the Ravens and any continuing ties to his hometown.
– SEO keywords to consider: Sabrina Greenlee, DeAndre Hopkins, acid attack, The Kingdom, ESPN docuseries, Chiefs dynasty, NFL resilience, family inspiration.
Summary in one line:
The Kingdom presents a intimate account of Sabrina Greenlee’s battle after a 2002 acid attack and how her son DeAndre Hopkins’ unwavering family bond helped him rise to NFL stardom, embodying resilience and determination.
Positive takeaway:
This narrative emphasizes the strength of family support in overcoming trauma and turning hardship into motivation, offering a hopeful lens on a superstar’s continued pursuit of excellence.