DeAndre Hopkins. Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

DeAndre Hopkins’ Done With The Patriots

Originally posted on Total Pro Sports | By Orlando Silva | Last updated Jul 30, 2026 12:50 PM ET

DeAndre Hopkins’ brief stay in New England has already come to an end. Patriots coach Mike Vrabel confirmed Thursday that the free agent wide receiver is no longer working with the team after spending several days shadowing the coaching and personnel staff during training camp.

Vrabel, who coached Hopkins for years in Tennessee, called the arrangement mutually beneficial.

“It was a great experience,” Vrabel said. “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.”

Patriots HC Mike Vrabel announced that 13-year NFL WR DeAndre Hopkins is no longer with the team, but "it was a great experience for everyone,"per multiple reports.

Hopkins served as an assistant coach for New England last week. pic.twitter.com/1yXxY6Z9t1
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) July 30, 2026

DeAndre Hopkins Explored a Different Side of the Game

Arizona Cardinals receiver DeAndre Hopkins waits during a timeout during the third quarter against the Houston Texans in Glendale on Oct. 24, 2021.

Hopkins didn’t practice or suit up for the Patriots. Instead, he spent his time around the building, sitting in on meetings and picking the brains of coaches and scouts.

Still just 34 and a five-time Pro Bowler, Hopkins insists his career isn’t over. He has said he wants to keep playing and is holding out for the right contender rather than settling for a roster spot that doesn’t fit his timeline or his goals for this season.

This isn’t the first time Hopkins’ name has come up in Patriots circles. Rob Gronkowski once pushed the front office to go after him, and trade buzz connecting Hopkins to New England has surfaced more than once over the years, including a proposed deal built around draft capital that never came together.

None of those scenarios ever materialized, and Hopkins instead built a resume that includes stops with the Cardinals, Titans, and Chiefs. He has compiled well over 12,000 receiving yards and 85 touchdowns across his career, numbers that keep teams calling even as he approaches his mid-30s and looks for one more shot at a deep playoff run.

DeAndre Hopkins Still Wants an NFL Home in 2026

Jan 12, 2020; Kansas City, MO, USA; Houston Texans wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins (10) against the Kansas City Chiefs in a AFC Divisional Round playoff football game at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

For now, Hopkins remains unsigned, and his time in Foxborough looks more like an informational visit than a step toward a roster spot. Vrabel’s comments suggest there were no hard feelings on either side.

Whether a contender comes calling before Week 1 remains unclear. Hopkins has made it plain that retirement isn’t on his mind yet, and his recent stop with the Patriots shows he’s still finding ways to stay close to the game while he waits for his next opportunity to prove he can still help a roster chasing a title.

This article first appeared on Total Pro Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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