Hunter Henry

Hunter Henry was signed by the New England Patriots as an unrestricted free agent from L.A. Chargers on March 19, 2021 ... Originally drafted by San Diego in the second round (35th overall) of the 2016 NFL Draft ... Named franchise player by L.A. Chargers and signed his tender (4/16/20).

CAREER TRANSACTIONS

Hunter Henry was signed by the New England Patriots as an unrestricted free agent from the L.A. Chargers on March 19, 2021 ... Originally drafted by San Diego in the second round (35th overall) of the 2016 NFL Draft ... Named franchise player by L.A. Chargers and signed his tender (4/16/20).

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

• Henry has logged 40-plus receptions in all four seasons with the Patriots, the second-longest streak by a Patriots tight end all-time (Ben Coates, six).
• Set a single-season career high in receptions (66) and receiving yards (674) in 2024.

Seasonal reviews

2024 (16/16)

• Named a team captain for the second-consecutive year and second time overall in his career.
• Set a new career-high in receiving yards (109) and tied his career-high in receptions with 8 vs. Seattle (9/15) in his second-career 100-yard game. Set new career-highs in receptions and receiving yards in one half with 7 receptions for 98 yards in the first half and recorded 7 receptions for a first down, a career-high for first down receptions.
• Caught a 5-yard pass from QB Drake Maye in the second quarter vs. Houston (10/13) to become the eighth New England tight end to record 150 receptions as a Patriot. Finished with 41 receiving yards to move past Tony Romeo into eighth place on New England's all-time receiving yards list for tight ends. Henry now has 152 receptions for 1,752 yards as a Patriot. Also recorded a 6-yard touchdown pass from QB Drake Maye in the third quarter.
• Moved into seventh on the Patriots all-time reception list among tight ends at Jacksonville (10/20) with a 13-yard reception from QB Drake Maye in the first quarter and now has 160 receptions with the Patriots after finishing the game with 8 catches. Finished the game with 92 receiving yards and became the eighth New England tight end to reach 1,800 yards. He is in sole possession of fifth place on New England's all-time list with 1,874 yards. Tied his career high in receptions with 8.
• Finished with 5 receptions for 45 yards in the win vs. the New York Jets (10/27), one catch being for a first down on a third-and-11 situation that helped lead to K Joey Slye's 23-yard field goal in the fourth quarter.
• Had a key reception of fourth-and-2 with 21 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter to help set up QB Drake Maye's 5-yard touchdown to RB Rhamondre Stevenson, which forced the game to overtime at Tennessee (11/3). Finished with 7 receptions for 56 yards.
• Led the team with 6 receptions for 63 yards vs. the L.A. Rams (11/17), the fourth time in 2024 that he has had at least 6 receptions in a game.
• Moved into sole possession of fifth place on the Patriots all-time list for receptions among tight ends with his first reception of the game in the first quarter vs. Indianapolis (12/1). Finished the game with 7 receptions and now has 191 receptions with the Patriots. His 7 receptions for 75 yards led the team vs. the Colts, and the 7 receptions (a feat he has accomplished seven total times) is tied for the fourth-most in his career behind the three games he had 8 receptions in: at Jacksonville (10/20/24), vs. Seattle (9/15/24) and vs. Pittsburgh (10/13/19).
• Caught a 2-yard reception in the second quarter at Arizona (12/15) to push his 2024 totals to 61 receptions, a new single-season career high. He had 60 receptions in 2020 when he played for the Chargers. Finished with 4 receptions and now has 62 receptions for the year.
• Extended his streak to 18-straight games with at least 1 reception at Buffalo (12/22). His streak is the longest streak for a Patriots tight end since Martellus Bennett's streak of 18 games extending from 2016 to 2017. The last game when Henry did not have a reception was on Nov. 26, 2023 at the New York Giants. Set a career-high in receiving yards at Buffalo (12/22) after finishing with 4 receptions for 39 yards, moving his 2024 total to 674 yards. Passed the mark on a 12-yard reception in the first quarter. Had 652 yards in 2019 when he played for the Los Angeles Chargers.
• Inactive vs. Buffalo (1/5) due to injury.

2023 (14/10)

• Named a team captain for the first time since joining the team.
• Played in 14 games with 10 starts and recorded 42 receptions for 419 yards (10.0 avg) and hauled in 6 touchdowns.
• He was inactive for two games due to injury - at Denver (12/24) and at Buffalo (12/31) - before being placed on injured reserve before the final game vs. N.Y. Jets (1/7).
• Recorded 5 receptions for 56 yards, averaging 11.2 yard-per-reception, and 1 touchdown vs. Philadelphia (9/10). His touchdown gave the Patriots their first points of the year, on a 9-yard pass from QB Mac Jones in the first quarter.
• Started vs. Miami (9/17) in a three tight end set and hauled in the only receiving touchdown for New England in the fourth quarter on a 6-yard pass from Jones.
• Had a crucial reception deep in the team's own territory for 14 yards that resulted in a first down on a third-down play late in the fourth quarter with zero time outs left and down by three points vs. Buffalo (10/22). That play set up a touchdown for a 29-25 win.
• Found the end zone in the second quarter vs. Washington (11/5) on a 14-yard pass from Jones to put the Patriots on the board.
• Tied his career high with two touchdown receptions, an 8-yard and a 24-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter on his birthday at Pittsburgh (12/7). He is the first Patriots player to score a touchdown on his birthday since RB Dion Lewis on Sept. 27, 2015 vs. Jacksonville when he turned 25. He finished the game with 3 receptions for 40 yards and 2 touchdowns.
• Hauled in a 16-yard touchdown pass from QB Bailey Zappe in the second quarter vs. Kansas City (12/17), before leaving the game in the second half with an injury.

2022 (17/14)

• Played in 17 games with 14 starts and recorded 41 receptions for 509 receiving yards and two touchdowns.
• Had five 30-yard receptions, including two 30-yard touchdown receptions.
• Henry scored on a 31-yard touchdown pass from QB Bailey Zappe in the third quarter at Cleveland (10/16) and had a 37-yard touchdown from Mac Jones at Minnesota in the third quarter (11/24), his longest touchdown receptions of his career. His previous best was a 30-yard touchdown pass at Jacksonville on Dec. 8, 2019 when he played for the Chargers. In 2021.
• Had a 39-yard reception from QB Mac Jones to set up a fourth quarter touchdown at Arizona (12/12).
• Had five receptions for 52 yards vs. Miami (1/1). Recovered the onside kick in the fourth quarter to give the Patriots possession and bring out the victory formation.

2021 (17/10, 1/1)

• Played in 17 regular season games with 10 starts and finished the season with 50 receptions for 603 yards and a career-high nine touchdowns.
• His nine touchdowns tied for the NFL lead among tight ends with Mark Andrews of Baltimore, Travis Kelce of Kansas City and Dawson Knox of Buffalo.
• Had a streak of four straight games with a touchdown from the game vs. Tampa Bay (10/03) through the game vs. N.Y. Jets (10/24). He had a three-game stretch with touchdowns as a rookie in 2016 with the Chargers. The last New England tight end to register a stretch of four straight games with a touchdown reception was Rob Gronkowski in 2013. The Patriots record for most consecutive touchdowns by a tight end is Gronkowski with six games in 2011.
• Had two 2-touchdown games - vs. Cleveland (11/14) and at Indianapolis (12/18).
• Started in the Wild Card Round loss at Buffalo (1/15), reeling in a 30-yard catch.
• Caught his first Patriots touchdown on an 11-yard pass from Mac Jones in the second quarter vs. Tampa Bay (10/3).
• Led the team in receptions (6) and receiving yards (76) at Houston (10/10), including a 12-yard touchdown catch from Mac Jones in the fourth quarter.
• Caught a 20-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter vs. Dallas (10/17).
• Caught a 1-yard touchdown pass from QB Mac Jones late in the second quarter vs. N.Y. Jets (10/24), marking his fourth-straight game with a touchdown reception.
• Made a key block on the opening kickoff vs. N.Y. Jets (10/24) when he ran all the way across the field to open up a lane for returner Gunner Olszewski, who ran the ball back for a season-high 31 yards on the play.
• Caught a season-long 33-yard pass from QB Mac Jones in the second quarter at L.A. Chargers (10/31). Started the game in a two-tight end set and recovered a Chargers onside kick in the final minute of play to secure the victory over his former team.
• Caught a 7-yard touchdown pass on third down in the second quarter at Carolina (11/7).
• Had his second career two-touchdown game vs. Cleveland (11/14). He had his first career two-touchdown game vs. Pittsburgh on Oct. 13, 2019 when he was with the Chargers. Capped the Patriots' first offensive drive with a 3-yard touchdown pass from QB Mac Jones. He also added a 3-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter from Jones.
• Made key blocks throughout the game at Buffalo (12/6) to help the team rush for 222 yards on the day.
• Caught six catches for a team-high 77 yards to go along with a 12-yard and a 7-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter at Indianapolis (12/18).

2020 (14/14 – L.A. Chargers)

• Started all 14 games he played and posted a career-high 60 receptions for 613 yards and four touchdowns.
• Missed the final two games of the season after being placed on the Reserve/COVID-19 list.
• Posted six receptions for a season-high 83 yards vs. Kansas City (9/20).
• Tallied a season-high seven receptions for 67 yards at Buffalo (11/29).
• Hauled in five receptions for 65 yards and a touchdown at Las Vegas (12/17).

2019 (12/12 – L.A. Chargers)

• Started all 12 games he played in and totaled 55 receptions for a career-high 652 yards and five touchdowns.
• Was inactive for four games (Weeks 2-5) due to injury.
• Returned from missing four straight games due to injury and set single-game career-highs in receptions (8), receiving yards (100) and receiving touchdowns (2) vs. Pittsburgh (10/13). The game marked the first 100-yard effort of his career.
• Caught six passes for 97 yards at Tennessee (10/20)
• Tallied five receptions for 42 yards and a touchdown in the season finale at Kansas City (12/29).

2018 (0/0, 1/1 – L.A. Chargers)

• Spent the regular season on the physically unable to perform list after suffering an injury in spring practice.
• Returned to action for the AFC Divisional Playoff at New England (1/13). Made his NFL playoff debut as a starter and did not accrue any statistics.

2017 (14/13 – L.A. Chargers)

• Appeared in 14 contests with 13 starts and totaled 45 receptions for 579 yards and four touchdowns.
• Placed on injured reserve on Dec. 19 and missed the final two games of the season.
• Posted a season-high seven receptions for 80 yards vs. Miami (9/17).
• Caught five passes for a season-high 90 yards at Oakland (10/15).
• Matched a season-high with seven receptions for 81 yards vs. Cleveland (12/3).

2016 (15/10 – San Diego)

• Played in 15 games with 10 starts and registered 36 receptions for 478 yards and a career-high eight touchdowns. Led all rookie tight ends in receiving yards and tied for the NFL lead among all tight ends in receiving touchdowns. Also returned one kickoff for 10 yards.
• Tallied four receptions for 61 yards and his first NFL touchdown vs. New Orleans (10/2).
• Had his most productive game of the season after catching six passes for 83 yards and a touchdown vs. Denver (10/13).
• Capped his rookie campaign vs. Kansas City (1/1) with four receptions for 43 yards and one touchdown.

College

• Played three seasons at Arkansas (2013-15), finishing his career with 116 receptions for 1,661 yards and nine touchdowns.
• Finished as one of eight tight ends in SEC history to reach the 100-reception mark in his collegiate career.
• Earned first-team All-America and All-SEC accolades as a senior in 2015 after leading all FBS tight ends with 739 yards receiving and three touchdowns on 51 receptions. Also did not record a dropped pass and did not allow a sack or QB hurry.
• Winner of the John Mackey Award, annually given to the nation's top tight end.
• Named second-team All-SEC as a sophomore in 2014.
• Named to the SEC All-Freshman Team while earning Freshman All-America and second-team All-SEC honors in 2013.

Personal

• Father, Mark, played at Arkansas from 1988-91 and brothers, Hayden, and Hudson also both played football at Arkansas.
• Earned first-team All-America honors following his senior season at Pulaski Academy in Little Rock, Ark., where he finished with 107 receptions for 1,449 yards and 15 touchdowns.
• Helped lead his team to the 5A state semifinals.
• Paced Pulaski as a junior with 64 receptions for 1,093 yards and 16 touchdowns to a 14-0 record and a 4A state title.
• Helped lead the team to the state championship game as a sophomore, totaling 45 receptions for 748 yards and 10 touchdowns.
• Married wife, Parker, in 2018 and welcomed their first child, Ace, in 2021 and a daughter, Rivi, born in 2023.