The Patriots could be participating in a pair of joint training camp practices this summer.
Update 3/31/2025: Patriots exploring possible joint practices with Commanders, Vikings
Speaking to the media at the NFL meetings in Palm Springs on Monday, New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel confirmed a prior report about his team planning to hold joint practices with the Minnesota Vikings and Washington Commanders this summer.
“Still waiting on the NFL, but we’ve had conversations with Minnesota; Washington, I think, would like to come up. We’d love to go to Minnesota if the NFL gives us those opportunities,” he said.
Vrabel also explained what draws his team to practicing with the Vikings.
“We practiced with them a few years ago in Tennessee,” he said. “It’s a nice setup, a beautiful facility. There’s a hotel nearby. You can walk to the field. I’ve enjoyed working with Kevin [O’Connell] and B[rian] Flo[res] and their team.”
Original story 3/31/2025: Patriots reportedly exploring possible joint practices with Commanders, Vikings
Joint practices became a near-annual tradition at New England Patriots under Bill Belichick, and it seems they will continue with new head coach Mike Vrabel leading the charge.
According to a report by Mike Reiss of ESPN, Vrabel’s team is exploring the possibility of holding up to two sets of joint sessions this summer. The Patriots have spoken with the Washington Commanders and Minnesota Vikings about joining forces at some point in August.
The Patriots have had conversations about holding joint practices with Washington (would be home) and Minnesota (would be away). Nothing is official as there is a process that requires NFL approval because the practices are married up with preseason games/scheduling. The league generally grants teams at least one request.
If the Patriots’ joint practices get approved, they would begin with the Commanders coming to town; New England is expected to host its preseason opener before going on the road for its second and third exhibition contests.
This would mean a possible Commanders joint practice would take place somewhere between Monday, August 4 and Friday, August 8. The Vikings joint practices would then be held in one of the subsequent two weeks.
Both sets of joint sessions would see the Patriots go against teams who also selected quarterbacks in the first round of the 2023 draft. New England picked Drake Maye third overall, following the Commanders’ selection of Jayden Daniels at No. 2. The Vikings later added J.J. McCarthy with the 10th pick in the draft.
The Patriots held one joint practice session last training camp. Under one-and-done head coach Jerod Mayo, they teamed up with the eventual world champion Philadelphia Eagles ahead of their preseason meeting at Gillette Stadium.
The NFL is expected to announce its 2025 schedule, including preseason games, in mid-May.