Overview
- Patriots coach Mike Vrabel said Hopkins is no longer with the team after spending several days helping the New England coaching and personnel staff.
- The visit was framed as an exploratory coaching experience not a tryout for the roster and included Hopkins wearing coaching gear and working with receivers on drills.
- Vrabel called the experience positive and said Hopkins was a good presence during his time at the team’s training camp.
- Hopkins, who most recently played for the Baltimore Ravens, has publicly said he still hopes to play this season and remains an unsigned free agent.
- Short internships like this often serve as a testing ground for former players to move into coaching or front-office work and do not rule out a later return to play; Hopkins finishes a long career with more than 1,000 catches and will decide whether to pursue coaching, personnel work, or another playing opportunity.