Riding off into the sunset is not part of DeAndre Hopkins’ agenda.
And the five-time Pro Bowl receiver’s eagerness to remain in and around the National Football League could pay huge dividends for the New England Patriots.
Hopkins, a 13-year NFL veteran who played last season with the Baltimore Ravens, could be a part of New England Patriots training camp in 2026 and possibly beyond.
Patriots coach Mike Vrabel mentioned Hopkins was visiting with the team, potentially to explore a future in coaching.
A win-win situation
“DeAndre Hopkins is here with us just to check things out as far as what he wants to do as far as coaching,” said Vrabel on Friday morning with the team’s first open training camp practice slated for Saturday.
“You’ll see him on the field.”
While Hopkins, now 34, will be learning on the job, he could also play a pivotal role in helping develop the talent in the Patriots receiver room.
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Texas A&M receivers coach John Perry, who coached Hopkins for four years (2017-2020) as the receivers coach with the Houston Texans, says that he could be a valuable asset as a coach, whether it’s here in New England or somewhere else.
“Two of ‘D-Hop’s’ many great attributes were his competitiveness and his football IQ,” said Perry. “Both were elite among his peers. If he brought that out in his players, he would make an incredible coach.”
Legend on the field
Hopkins, a three-time First-Team All-Pro, has 1,006 catches for 13,295 yards and 85 touchdowns over his career.
Vrabel, who got to know Hopkins in his four years as an assistant with the Texans (2014-2017), is already tapping into his knowledge bank.
“There has to be a level of versatility, the way you play the game at receiver, there’s a lot of different skill sets, a lot of different play styles … I use (Hopkins) as an example because he wasn’t the fastest receiver but he had an unbelievable play style and a play strength and a route craft that allowed him to succeed,” said Vrabel.
“Each player at that position has to find out what it is that they do well. Kyle Williams is a much different receiver than Mack Hollins. And A.J. (Brown) is a much different receiver than Pop (Douglas). Our job is to make sure that we’re putting the best players, the ones that can help us win, in the right spots.”
