DeAndre Hopkins, the five-time Pro Bowler with a monstrous 1,006 career receptions, isn’t on an NFL roster right now as training camps kick off. But get this: he’s absolutely still around the game, just not in the way you’d expect. Hopkins has been with the New England Patriots during the opening days of their training camp, and he’s not there to catch passes. Nope, the veteran wide receiver is there to learn the coaching side of the NFL. This ain’t no tryout, folks. This is a legend eyeing what’s next, and it looks like it’s on the other side of the sideline.
Vrabel Confirms Coaching Interest, Gets League Approval
Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel spilled the beans on Friday, confirming that Hopkins actually reached out to *him* about observing the staff. It’s all about Hopkins beginning to think through what life after football could look like. Vrabel didn’t mince words, saying, “DeAndre Hopkins is here with us, just to kind of check things out as far as what he wants to do, as far as coaching. You’ll see him on the field.” Here’s the kicker, though: Hopkins is still an unrestricted free agent and hasn’t officially retired. Because of that, Vrabel smartly got approval from the league before inviting the veteran receiver to spend time with the organization. Vrabel explained, “[Hopkins] and I talked, and he asked if he could come hang out for a couple days and be around the coaches and be around the personnel department. I called the league and made sure that that was gonna be OK. Then I invited him back, and that’s where he’s been the last couple days, and he’ll be here for the next couple days.” It’s a reunion, too, since Vrabel coached Hopkins when he was with the Texans from 2014-2017 and again with the Titans in 2023. Talk about trust!
Coaching Gear On, Playing Days Fading
This isn’t some casual observation, either. Hopkins has been fully immersed, wearing coaching gear during practices, actively assisting New England’s offensive coaches, and even sitting in with the personnel department. Vrabel made it crystal clear: this is not about Hopkins trying out for a roster spot. He’s simply getting a firsthand look at another side of the league. Vrabel painted a picture, saying, “He has got coaching gear on, and he is helping out the offensive coaches and meeting with our personnel guys. He loves football. People that love football and have played the game for the length of time that he did, wants, I think, to explore the opportunities and what that looks like after his playing career is over.” Hopkins spent the 2025 season with the Baltimore Ravens, appearing in all 17 games, but recorded a career-low 22 receptions for 330 yards and just two touchdowns. Over his 13 NFL seasons, the former first-round pick has racked up an incredible 1,006 catches for 13,295 yards and 85 touchdowns across stints with the Texans, Cardinals, Titans, Chiefs, and Ravens. While he hasn’t announced his retirement and remains available to sign with an NFL team, this move speaks volumes. For now, he’s taking full advantage of the chance to gain experience on the other side of the sidelines, and it sure looks like the writing is on the wall for one of the league’s all-time great pass-catchers.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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