The Patriots dropped a few roster moves on Wednesday, and one name on that list might just make you do a double-take if you were following the Seahawks in 2025. New England officially signed first-year tight end Mitch Van Vooren, a guy who had a brief, but memorable, stint right here in the Emerald City.
From Seahawk Hopeful to Patriot TE
Van Vooren’s journey through the NFL has been a bit of a whirlwind, you gotta admit. The 25-year-old first hit the league as a rookie free agent in 2025, and yeah, he landed with our beloved Seahawks. He was right there with us for a bit, trying to make his mark, but Seattle ultimately cut him on June 13, 2025. Oof. Not ideal, but that’s the brutal business of the NFL, right? He didn’t stay out of work for long, signing with the Browns just a couple of months later on August 4. But then, the Browns waived him on August 24, sending him back into the free agent pool. Now, almost a year later in July 2026, he’s back, getting another shot with the Patriots. You gotta respect that hustle and determination.
Track Star Turned Gridiron Contender
It turns out Van Vooren’s athletic background is pretty wild. Before he was trying to snag passes, he was tearing it up on the track. He actually started his college career at Marquette as a track athlete, even setting a school record in the 400-meter hurdles! Talk about raw athleticism. He later shifted gears to football at St. Norbert for his final collegiate season. And man, did he make it count. He earned first-team All-NACC honors after hauling in 33 receptions for 510 yards and an impressive 10 touchdowns. Those are some serious numbers, showing he’s definitely got the receiving chops.
What’s Next for Van Vooren?
So, here we are in July 2026, and Mitch Van Vooren is back on an NFL roster, this time with the Patriots. After being cut by the Seahawks and then waived by the Browns in 2025, this signing gives him another crack at making an NFL squad. It’s a testament to his determination to keep pushing for that dream. For former Seahawks fans who saw him in camp, it’ll be interesting to see if he can stick this time around. He’s certainly put in the work. Good luck to the guy!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pro Football Talk.
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