 Henry with the San Diego Chargers in 2016 | |||||||||
| No. 85 –New England Patriots | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position: | Tight end | ||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||
| Born: | (1994-12-07)December 7, 1994 (age 30) Little Rock, Arkansas, U.S. | ||||||||
| Height: | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | ||||||||
| Weight: | 249 lb (113 kg) | ||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||
| High school: | Pulaski Academy(Little Rock) | ||||||||
| College: | Arkansas (2013–2015) | ||||||||
| NFL draft: | 2016: 2nd round, 35th pick | ||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||
| |||||||||
| Roster status: | Active | ||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||
| |||||||||
| Career NFL statistics as of Week 18, 2024 | |||||||||
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Hunter Henry (born December 7, 1994) is an American professionalfootballtight end for theNew England Patriots of theNational Football League (NFL). He playedcollege football for theArkansas Razorbacks, earningunanimous All-American honors in 2015. Henry was selected by theSan Diego Chargers in the second round of the2016 NFL draft. He was a member of the Chargers for five seasons before joining the Patriots in 2021.
Henry was born inLittle Rock, Arkansas, on December 7, 1994, to Mark and Jenny Henry. In summer 2000, his family moved to theAtlanta area for his father's job. Henry moved back to Little Rock for his freshman year of high school where he attendedPulaski Academy in Little Rock for four years.[2] As a freshman, Henry spent time playingoffensive tackle,wide receiver, anddefensive end for thefootball team. He did not playtight end during his high school career, becausePulaski Academy'sSpread Offense scheme did not feature that position. Henry started his sophomore, junior, and senior years, winning a state championship with the Bruins in 2011.
Henry was named to theParade All-America team for the 2012-13 school year and was one of the top recruits in the nation.[3]
In 2015, Henry was involved in one of the most memorable plays in Arkansas football history. During a fourth-and-25 play in overtime againstOle Miss in therivalry game, Henry caught a pass fromquarterbackBrandon Allen and upon seeing that he was going to betackled short of thefirst down marker, Henry blindly flung the ball backwards as alateral to running backAlex Collins. Collins picked it up on the bounce and ran it for a 31-yard gain to gain a first down. This set up an eventualtouchdown and successfultwo-point conversion to win the game. The uniqueness of the play led to widespread media coverage and replays. He was theJohn Mackey Award winner for best tight end in the nation and also was aConsensus All-American in the 2015–2016 season.[4] Henry helped Arkansas win back-to-back bowl games in consecutive years for the first time in program history, beating formerSouthwest Conference rival theTexas Longhorns in the2014 Texas Bowl, and winning the2016 Liberty Bowl over theKansas State Wildcats.[5]
On January 4, 2016, Henry declared he would be entering the2016 NFL draft.[6]
| Season | Team | Conf | GP | Receiving | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rec | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | ||||
| 2013 | Arkansas | SEC | 10 | 28 | 409 | 14.6 | 66 | 4 |
| 2014 | Arkansas | SEC | 12 | 37 | 513 | 13.9 | 54 | 2 |
| 2015 | Arkansas | SEC | 13 | 51 | 739 | 14.5 | 79 | 3 |
| Career | 35 | 116 | 1,661 | 14.3 | 79 | 9 | ||
In early 2016, Henry was predicted to be a late first- to second-round pick in the 2016 NFL Draft.[7][8] Henry skipped most physical drills at theNFL Combine but did compete inbench press with a position worst of 13 reps.[9] Henry managed to improve on hispro day by posting a 4.6740 yard dash and completing 21 reps in the bench press establishing himself as one of the top tight ends in the 2016 NFL Draft.[10]
| Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand span | 40-yard dash | 10-yard split | 20-yard split | 20-yard shuttle | Three-cone drill | Vertical jump | Broad jump | Bench press | Wonderlic |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 ft4+7⁄8 in (1.95 m) | 250 lb (113 kg) | 32+3⁄4 in (0.83 m) | 9+1⁄4 in (0.23 m) | 4.68 s | 1.60 s | 2.74 s | 4.41 s | 7.16 s | 31.5 in (0.80 m) | 9 ft 5 in (2.87 m) | 21 reps | 28[11] |
| All values fromNFL Combine andPro Day[12][13] | ||||||||||||
Henry was drafted by theSan Diego Chargers in the second round (35th overall) of the 2016 NFL Draft.[14] He was the first tight end to be selected in the 2016 NFL Draft. In addition, he was the first of five Arkansas Razorbacks to be selected that year.[15]On June 2, 2016, Henry and the Chargers agreed to a four-year, $6.38 million contract with $3.98 million guaranteed and a $2.84 million signing bonus.[16]
Henry enteredtraining camp competing to be the backup tight end, against veteransSean McGrath andAsante Cleveland. Henry was named the Chargers' third tight end on their depth chart to begin the regular season, behind longtimePro Bowl veteranAntonio Gates and Sean McGrath.[17]
In his NFL debut against theKansas City Chiefs, Henry made onereceptions for 20 yards in the season-opening overtime loss.[18] The following week, he earned his first NFL start during a victory over theJacksonville Jaguars.[19] During a Week 4 loss to theNew Orleans Saints, he caught four passes for 61 yards and scored his first NFL touchdown on a 20-yard pass from quarterbackPhilip Rivers.[20] On October 13, 2016, Henry led all Chargers in receptions, making six catches for 83 yards and a touchdown in a 21–13 victory over theDenver Broncos.[21] On December 18, he caught three passes for 37 receiving yards and a touchdown during a 19–16 loss to theOakland Raiders.[22] Henry has the distinction of catching the final touchdown of the Chargers' history in San Diego scoring a 12-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter of the 37–27 loss to Kansas City in the season finale.[23]
In his rookie season, Henry scored the second-most touchdowns by a rookie tight end in the last decade (only behindRob Gronkowski), and scored the fifth-most touchdowns by a rookie tight end in NFL history.[24] He was named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team.[25]
During Week 15 against the Chiefs, Henry left the game with a knee injury. The next day, it was revealed that he suffered a lacerated kidney and was placed on injured reserve on December 19, 2017.[26] He finished the season with 45 receptions for 579 yards and four touchdowns.[27]
On May 22, 2018, Henry suffered atorn ACL duringorganized team activities, and was ruled out for the entire season.[28] On September 1, 2018, he was placed on thephysically unable to perform list, giving Henry a chance to return later in the season.[29] He was added to the active roster on January 7, 2019, ahead of theirDivisional Round game, which they lost to the eventualSuper Bowl LIII championNew England Patriots.[30]
On September 11, 2019, it was announced that Henry suffered a tibia plateau fracture to his left knee and would be out several weeks.[31] Henry made his return from injury in Week 6 against thePittsburgh Steelers. In that game, Henry caught eight passes for 100 yards and two touchdowns in the 24–17 loss.[32] Overall, Henry finished the 2019 season with 55receptions for 652 receiving yards and five receiving touchdowns.[33]
The Chargers placed thefranchise tag on Henry on March 13, 2020.[34] He signed the tag on April 16.[35] He was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list by the team on December 24, 2020,[36] and activated on January 7, 2021.[37] He finished the 2020 season with 60 receptions for 613 receiving yards and four receiving touchdowns.[38]
On March 19, 2021, Henry signed a three-year, $37.5 million contract with theNew England Patriots.[39][40] He scored his first touchdown for the Patriots in Week 4 duringa 17–19 home loss to theTampa Bay Buccaneers.[41] Over the first 10 games, Henry caught seven touchdown passes, establishing himself as a frequentred zone target for rookie quarterbackMac Jones.[42] He finished the 2021 season with 50 receptions for 603 receiving yards and nine receiving touchdowns.[43]
Henry returned as the Patriots starting tight end in 2022. He finished the season with 41 catches for 509 yards and two touchdowns.[44]
In the 2023 season, Henry finished with 42 receptions for 419 receiving yards and six receiving touchdowns.[45]
On March 8, 2024, Henry signed a three-year contract extension with the Patriots.[46] Henry finished the 2024 season with 66 receptions for 674 yards and two touchdowns.[47]
| Legend | |
|---|---|
| Led the league (for tight ends) | |
| Bold | Career best |
| Year | Team | Games | Receiving | Fumbles | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Rec | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Fum | Lost | ||
| 2016 | SD | 15 | 10 | 36 | 478 | 13.3 | 59 | 8 | 1 | 1 |
| 2017 | LAC | 14 | 13 | 45 | 579 | 12.9 | 34 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| 2018 | LAC | 0 | 0 | did not play due to injury | ||||||
| 2019 | LAC | 12 | 12 | 55 | 652 | 11.9 | 30 | 5 | 1 | 1 |
| 2020 | LAC | 14 | 14 | 60 | 613 | 10.2 | 33 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| 2021 | NE | 17 | 10 | 50 | 603 | 12.1 | 35 | 9 | 0 | 0 |
| 2022 | NE | 17 | 14 | 41 | 509 | 12.4 | 39 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 2023 | NE | 14 | 10 | 42 | 419 | 10.0 | 29 | 6 | 1 | 0 |
| 2024 | NE | 16 | 16 | 66 | 674 | 10.2 | 35 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Career | 119 | 99 | 395 | 4,527 | 11.5 | 59 | 40 | 3 | 2 | |
Henry's parents are Mark Henry and Jenny Henry, and they live in Little Rock. His father was an offensive lineman for the Arkansas Razorbacks from1987–1991. Helettered four years for the Razorbacks.[48] Henry has three siblings; Hayden, Hudson and Hope. Hayden was a linebacker at Arkansas from 2017-2022. Hudson was a tight end for the Razorbacks from 2019-2022.
Henry was married on June 30, 2018.[49] Hunter and his wife have one son and one daughter.[50]
Henry is aChristian. He has said, “I would say my faith is the most important thing to me. My dad is a pastor in Little Rock. I’ve grown up in a Christian background my whole life. My faith is the most important thing to me; that’s the one message that I want to convey to everybody.”[51]
