Ex-Cardinals GM breaks silence on Deandre Hopkins’ allegations about 2022 suspension

Former Arizona Cardinals general manager Steve Keim has strongly denied DeAndre Hopkins’ allegation that he was involved in the former receiver’s failed NFL drug test that resulted in a six-game suspension in 2022.

Hopkins recently posted and later deleted a statement claiming he was “set up” in connection with the failed performance-enhancing drug test. The allegation appeared to implicate Keim, who was Arizona’s general manager at the time.

On Tuesday, Keim responded by unequivocally denying any involvement in contaminating, altering, manipulating or interfering with the test or its results.

“DeAndre Hopkins recently published and then deleted a statement falsely suggesting that I was responsible for contaminating or manipulating the drug test associated with his 2022 NFL suspension,” Keim said in a statement provided to PFT. “That accusation is completely false.

“I did not contaminate, alter, manipulate, interfere with, or cause anyone else to interfere with DeAndre’s drug test or its results. I did not ‘set him up’ for a suspension, and I had no involvement in causing the test result that led to his suspension.

“Accusing someone of deliberately interfering with an NFL drug test is an extraordinarily serious allegation. It attacks my integrity, my professional reputation, and the work I spent decades building in the National Football League. The fact that the statement was later deleted does not undo the damage caused by publishing it to a large public audience.

“I have retained counsel, Raees Mohamed, Esq., to aggressively address this matter and to protect my reputation and legal rights. The relevant evidence is being reviewed and preserved, and this matter will be handled through the appropriate channels.

“I have no intention of engaging in a public back-and-forth or litigating this issue on social media. But I also will not remain silent when I am falsely accused of conduct that I did not commit.

“DeAndre’s accusation concerning my involvement in his drug test is false. I unequivocally deny it.”

Hopkins was suspended for the first six games of the 2022 season after violating the NFL’s policy on performance-enhancing substances. An independent expert determined that the prohibited substance likely came from a contaminated supplement, but the NFL upheld the suspension because players are strictly responsible for banned substances found in their systems.

The suspension carried huge financial consequences for Hopkins. His contract’s maximum-forfeiture provision resulted in approximately $13 million in guaranteed money being forfeited. The punishment also voided his no-trade clause, giving Keim more flexibility regarding the five-time Pro Bowl receiver’s future with the Cardinals. Hopkins was ultimately released by Arizona in 2023.

Keim has told multiple NFL figures that he had no connection to the incident. His response came as his name was also being discussed in connection with Mohamed Coulibaly and Motion Ventures. A Barron’s report alleged that Keim participated in investor calls involving the company and appeared on a pitch deck as its chief operation/growth officer. Coulibaly was accused of using a scheme involving fake Shopify stores to obtain money from NFL players.

Keim left the Cardinals after taking an indefinite health-related leave in December 2022. Arizona announced on January 9, 2023, that he was stepping down as general manager after the team finished 4-13. Amid the latest allegations, Keim remains active around NFL circles and has been visiting training camps and speaking with league personnel.

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