Free-agent receiver DeAndre Hopkins is visiting the New England Patriots this week, but he isn't wearing a jersey or pads.
The 34-year-old is instead considering a move into coaching.
"DeAndre Hopkins is here with us ... just to kind of check things out as far as what he wants to do, as far as coaching. You'll see him on the field," head coach Mike Vrabel said Friday, according to NFL.com's Kevin Patra.
He added, "(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. Then I invited him back, and that's where he's been the last couple days, and he'll be here for the next couple days."
Hopkins has an extensive history with Vrabel. The two were members of the Houston Texans together from 2014-17, when the latter was an assistant coach. In 2023, they reunited on the Tennessee Titans during Vrabel's final season as head coach of the team.
Hopkins, a three-time first-team All-Pro, remains unsigned after spending the 2025 campaign with the Baltimore Ravens. He recorded 22 catches for 330 yards and two touchdowns with the club.
Despite not being a focal point of the Ravens' offense last season, Hopkins expressed confidence in June, saying, "I still got a lot of ball left" during an appearance on SiriusXM NFL Radio.
"Going into Year 14, I would love to play for a competitor if that time came," Hopkins said at the time. "But I'm not in no rush to go out and be a regular-season superstar because for me, I'm not getting a contract extension."
The five-time Pro Bowler has suited up for the Texans, Arizona Cardinals, Titans, Kansas City Chiefs, and Ravens over 13 seasons. He sits 18th on the NFL's all-time receiving yards list (13,295).
