DeAndre Hopkins’ brief coaching stint with the New England Patriots has officially come to an end.
The former Clemson star receiver, who is currently an unsigned free agent following his 2025 season with the Baltimore Ravens, spent the opening days of training camp with the Patriots explicitly to explore a potential post-playing career in coaching (he was not trying out for a roster spot).
Hopkins had reached out to shadow the staff. During his short time with New England, he wore coaching gear, assisted New England’s offensive coaches and met with the personnel department.
Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel — who shares a long relationship with Hopkins, dating back to their time together with the Houston Texans (2014–2017) and Tennessee Titans (2023) — confirmed Hopkins’ exit after several training camp practices.
“It was a great experience,” Vrabel told the media during his July 30 press conference. “Hop’s not here, but it was a great experience for all of us. That’s what we try to do when you have some of these unique situations where a player or former player or whatever it may be wants to come in and help and learn, and they love football, so I think it was good for everybody.”
The 34-year-old Hopkins, a five-time Pro Bowler and three-time first-team All-Pro over his 13-year NFL career, has not yet officially retired from the NFL. In June, he said he still has plenty of football left in the tank, adding that he wasn’t in a hurry to sign with a new team, and that he ideally wanted to play for a contender as he seeks the big thing missing on his Hall of Fame-caliber resume – a Super Bowl ring.
“As I go into my 14th year, of course, I love playing the game, I still love football. But if nothing happens, life is still good, and I’m looking forward to that next chapter,” Hopkins said on SiriusXM NFL Radio. “I still got a lot of ball left, but it’s not a situation that I’m sitting here trying to force, or go out and be the regular season superstar. Because that’s for the young guys, that’s for the people that they want to develop, and get those contracts to look at the future.”
“Going into Year 14, I would love to play for a competitor if that time came,” Hopkins added. “But I’m not in no rush to go out regular season and be a regular season superstar. Because for me, I’m not getting a contract extension.”
In 17 games with the Ravens last season, Hopkins hauled in 22 receptions for 330 yards and two touchdowns, averaging exactly 15.0 yards per reception – just shy of his career high of 15.9 yards per catch back in 2014, his second NFL season.
Hopkins has amassed 1,006 receptions for 13,295 yards and 85 touchdowns over 195 games during his career with the Texans, Cardinals, Titans, Chiefs and Ravens since being selected by Houston in the first round of the 2013 NFL Draft (No. 27 overall pick).