Jan 15, 2025; El Segundo, CA, USA; Los Angeles Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh at a press conference at The Bolt. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Los Angeles Chargers: Omarion Hampton Doesn’t Hide Admiration For NBA Legend in Candid Moment

Originally posted on Gridiron Heroics | By Rex Villas | Last updated May 7, 2025 5:45 AM ET

The Los Angeles Chargers have high hopes for their rushing attack in the 2025 NFL season, as they made moves this offseason geared toward that goal. Among the decisions they made to shore up their running back room was using their No. 22 pick overall in the first round of the 2025 NFL draft to acquire North Carolina Tar Heels football product and tailback Omarion Hampton.

The Chargers can feel even more excited about the prospect of Hampton becoming an immediate contributor to the team after seeing him profess his admiration for former Los Angeles Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant.

In a video posted by the Chargers on their official X (formerly Twitter) account, Hampton asked former San Diego Chargers defensive back Jim Hill about the Basketball Hall of Famer, who tragically passed away in a helicopter crash in 2020.

“You talk about somebody that has ‘it.’ You got that it factor. You’ve got it. But Kobe was [gestures],” Hill told the rookie.

“Yeah, for sure. I was a Kobe fan,” Hampton shared.

“Well, both of us are,” Hill responded.

omarion mamba mentality pic.twitter.com/ESZHMCYisJ

— Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) May 6, 2025

Los Angeles Chargers rookie excited to help team’s rushing attack

Jan 15, 2025; El Segundo, CA, USA; Los Angeles Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh at a press conference at The Bolt. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Hampton has a chance to take over the top running back role in Inglewood right away, but he’s got competition in the offseason LA pickup Najee Harris, who spent his first four years in the NFL with the Pittsburgh Steelers before joining the Bolts via a one-year deal worth $5.25 million.

For Hampton, he’s just excited for now about his chances of helping a Chargers team that is looking to significantly rely on their ground attack.

“We know they’re going to run the ball, so I’m loving it,” Hampton said, via The Jim Rome Show (h/t Gavino Borquez of Chargers Wire). “I’m excited, we got me and Najee, a dominant duo backfield. I’m excited to learn from him, I’m excited to get out there. We got a good offensive line, a good quarterback. I feel like we’re building something special here.”

Apr 24, 2025; Green Bay, WI, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels running back Omarion Hampton is selected as the No. 22 pick by the Los Angeles Chargers during the NFL Draft at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

This article first appeared on Gridiron Heroics and was syndicated with permission.

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