DeAndre Hopkins Leaves Patriots Training Camp Role, Mike Vrabel Talks 'Great Experience' With WR

New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel divulged that longtime NFL wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins' trial coaching run has come to an end.

According to Doug Kyed of the Boston Herald, Vrabel shared the news Thursday before adding, "It was a great experience for everyone."

Last week, Vrabel told reporters that Hopkins would be spending some time with the team at training camp in order to see if coaching might interest him in the future.

Vrabel explained how Hopkins' stint with the Patriots came to be, saying, "[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."

Hopkins and Vrabel were both with the Houston Texans from 2014 to 2017 when Hopkins was the team's star wideout and Vrabel was the linebackers coach and then defensive coordinator. Vrabel also served as Hopkins' head coach with the Tennessee Titans in 2023.

The 34-year-old Hopkins has played 13 NFL seasons with the Texans, Arizona Cardinals, Titans, Kansas City Chiefs and Baltimore Ravens, but he remains unsigned as training camps across the league are kicking off.

A five-time Pro Bowler and three-time First Team All-Pro, Hopkins ranks 17th in NFL history in receptions (1,006), 18th in receiving yardage (13,295) and 19th in receiving touchdowns (85).

However, his production has dropped off significantly over the past two seasons, and he set career lows across the board last season in Baltimore with 22 catches for 330 yards and two touchdowns across 17 games.

Given that performance, it is unclear if Hopkins will get the call to return for a 14th NFL season as a player.

If he doesn't, Hopkins is doing his due diligence to see if coaching could be an option for him, and his work with the Patriots over the past week was seemingly the first step in that process.