DeAndre Hopkins opens up about experience with domestic violence

All-Pro receiver DeAndre Hopkins shared a side of his past he hadn't revealed publicly before while speaking to students in Houston last week.

On behalf of the organization Aid to Victims of Domestic Abuse, the Houston Texans receiver told Wisdom High School that domestic violence left his mother blind in both eyes when he just a boy.

"I'm 24 years old," Hopkins said, according to his team website. "I've been playing sports since I was 8 years old. At the age of 12, my mother was physically assaulted and left for blind, left for dead."

Hopkins recalled arguments between his mother and her boyfriend. His mother was eventually attacked by a woman who was also dating the man. The other woman threw acid in Hopkins' mother's face, leaving her blind.

"Since the age of 12, my mother has never seen me play a football game or a basketball game," said Hopkins.

The Pro Bowl receiver told students it's important to recognize domestic abuse and report any signs that it could be occurring in their own lives or in those of others.

"It's an ongoing battle, but we've overcome it and we still have got a lot to do in life," Hopkins said. "All of you all in here, it might not hit you. It might not be your family that’s in a domestic violence relationship. It might be the next-door neighbors that you hear arguing every day.

"I know you all are young and you all like to go by the rule 'No snitching,' but it's really not about that. It's deeper than that. It's about somebody being affected long term."