DeAndre Hopkins’s trial coaching run for the Patriots has concluded.
Head coach Mike Vrabel shared that Hopkins is no longer with the team after helping the coaching and personnel staff for the past week.
Hopkins contributed as a sort of trial run to see if he might want to pursue coaching in the future.
“It was a great experience,” Vrabel told reporters at training camp Thursday. “Hop’s not here, but it was a great experience for all of us. That’s what we try to do when we have some of these unique situations where a player or former player or whatever it might be wants to come in and help and learn and they love football, and I think it was good for everybody.”
Vrabel was Hopkins’ head coach for one season in Tennessee in 2023.
Hopkins and Vrabel were also both with the Texans from 2014-017, when Hopkins was starring at wide receiver and Vrabel was the linebackers coach and then defensive coordinator.
The 34-year-old remains unsigned as training camps open around the league.
He played 13 pro seasons with the Texans, Cardinals, Titans, Chief, and Ravens and was once one of the most feared receivers in the league.
However, his production has decreased significantly over the past two seasons and he tallied just 22 catches for 330 yards and two touchdowns for the Ravens last year.
Hopkins has said he believes he has a lot of football left to play and hopes to sign with a contending team during his 14th NFL season.
The five-time Pro Bowler and three-time First Team All-Pro ranks 17th in NFL history in receptions with 1,006, 18th in receiving yards with 13,295 and 19th in receiving touchdowns with 85.
