Wes Hopkins

Wesley Carl Hopkins (September 26, 1961 – September 28, 2018) was an American professional football player who played as a safety for the Philadelphia Eagles during his entire 11-year National Football League career from 1983 through 1993. A walk-on for the Southern Methodist football team, he was first noticed after he made a ferocious tackle on teammate and future Pro Football Hall of Fame running back Eric Dickerson during a team practice. Hopkins was named to the All-Conference selection in each of his last two seasons at SMU.
NFL career.
Hopkins was drafted by the Eagles in the second round of the 1983 NFL Draft and started 14 games at free safety as a rookie. In 1985, he had a career-high 6 interceptions (including one for a touchdown) was voted Most Valuable Player on the Eagles defense and was selected to the Pro Bowl. In 1988, he was voted the Eagles Ed Block Courage Award winner. As part of the Eagles vaunted "Gang Green" defense, the safety tandem of Hopkins and strong safety Andre Waters lasted from 1986 to 1993. With Buddy Ryan as head coach from 1986 to 1990, the tandem were considered one of the hardest hitting and most feared safety duos in the NFL. Hopkins retired after the 1993 season and finished his career with 30 interceptions, 12 sacks and 1 touchdown.