Hunter Henry Bio
Hunter Henry is an American professional football tight end for the New England Patriots of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Arkansas Razorbacks, earning unanimous All-American honors in 2015. Henry was selected by the San Diego Chargers in the second round of the 2016 NFL draft. He was a member of the Chargers for five seasons before joining the Patriots in 2021.
Early Life and Background
Hunter Henry was born on December 7, 1994, in Little Rock, Arkansas, the oldest of four children of Mark and Jenny Henry. His father, Mark Henry, was a former offensive lineman for the Arkansas Razorbacks from 1987 to 1991, earning a letter in all four of his college seasons. In 2000, the family relocated to the Atlanta area for his father’s job. Hunter later returned to Little Rock to attend Pulaski Academy, where he became a multi-position standout on the football team.
During his high school years, Henry played offensive tackle, wide receiver, and defensive end, but did not line up at tight end because the Pulaski Academy spread offense did not feature the position. He started as a sophomore, junior, and senior, and won a state championship with the Bruins in 2011. For the 2012-13 school year, Henry was named to the Parade All-America team and was ranked among the top recruits in the nation.
Path to American Football
Henry committed to the University of Arkansas, following in the footsteps of his father and a long family connection to the Razorbacks program. He quickly developed into one of the top tight end prospects in the country. By his sophomore season, he was a key contributor in the Arkansas offense, and he earned Second-team All-SEC honors in 2013 and First-team All-SEC recognition in 2014 and 2015.
As a junior in 2015, Henry was involved in one of the most memorable plays in Arkansas football history, executing a desperate lateral to running back Alex Collins on a fourth-and-25 play against Ole Miss that set up a game-winning two-point conversion. He won the John Mackey Award as the nation’s best tight end and was named a Consensus All-American. Henry helped Arkansas win back-to-back bowl games for the first time in program history, beating Texas in the 2014 Texas Bowl and Kansas State in the 2016 Liberty Bowl. On January 4, 2016, he declared for the NFL draft.
Hunter Henry Career
Early Career (2016)
Henry was selected by the San Diego Chargers in the second round, 35th overall, of the 2016 NFL draft, becoming the first tight end taken that year. He signed a four-year, $6.38 million rookie contract that included a $2.84 million signing bonus. Henry opened training camp competing to be the backup tight end behind future Hall of Famer Antonio Gates, but his strong play quickly earned him a larger role.
He made his NFL debut against the Kansas City Chiefs and scored his first career touchdown on a 20-yard pass from Philip Rivers in a Week 4 loss to the New Orleans Saints. Henry closed his rookie year with 45 receptions for 579 yards and four touchdowns, including the final touchdown ever scored by the Chargers in San Diego. He was named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team.
San Diego / Los Angeles Chargers Era (2016-2020)
Henry’s second season ended prematurely when he suffered a lacerated kidney in December 2017 and was placed on injured reserve. The following May, he tore his ACL during organized team activities and missed the entire 2018 campaign. He returned to the active roster in January 2019 and quickly regained form, finishing the 2019 season with 55 catches for 652 yards and five touchdowns despite a midseason tibia plateau fracture.
In March 2020, the Chargers placed the franchise tag on Henry, who responded with 60 receptions for 613 yards and four touchdowns in his final season with the team. Over five seasons in San Diego and Los Angeles, Henry established himself as a reliable receiving tight end and a red-zone target.
New England Patriots Era (2021-Present)
On March 19, 2021, Henry signed a three-year, $37.5 million contract with the New England Patriots. He quickly developed into a favorite target of rookie quarterback Mac Jones, catching seven touchdowns over the first 10 games of the season. Henry finished 2021 with 50 receptions for 603 yards and nine touchdowns, then followed up with 41 catches for 509 yards in 2022 and 42 receptions for 419 yards and six scores in 2023.
On March 8, 2024, Henry signed a three-year contract extension with the Patriots and posted 66 catches for 674 yards and two touchdowns that season. He has remained the team’s primary tight end and a key presence in the red zone.
Driving Style and Strengths
Hunter Henry is known for his reliability as a pass catcher, his precise route running, and his effectiveness in the red zone. His size and strong hands have made him a frequent target near the goal line throughout his NFL career.
Notable Events and Milestones
Henry’s miraculous fourth-and-25 lateral against Ole Miss in 2015 became one of the most replayed plays in Arkansas history. In the NFL, he scored the last touchdown in the Chargers’ San Diego era and later set a Patriots season record for a tight end with nine touchdown receptions in 2021.
Hunter Henry Career Wins
Hunter Henry’s career has been defined more by consistent receiving production and individual awards than by team championships at the professional level.
NFL Highlights
Across his NFL career, Henry has been a steady red-zone presence, highlighted by his nine-touchdown 2021 season in New England. He earned PFWA All-Rookie Team honors in 2016 and has posted four seasons with 50 or more receptions.
Other Wins and Performances
At the high school level, Henry won a state championship with Pulaski Academy in 2011. In college, he helped Arkansas win the 2014 Texas Bowl and the 2016 Liberty Bowl, securing back-to-back bowl victories for the Razorbacks for the first time in program history.
Hunter Henry Family
Family Background and Football Lineage
Henry is the son of Mark and Jenny Henry. His father, Mark, played offensive line for the Arkansas Razorbacks from 1987 to 1991 and has been a pastor in Little Rock. Henry has three siblings: Hayden, Hudson, and Hope. Hayden played linebacker at Arkansas from 2017 to 2022, while Hudson played tight end for the Razorbacks from 2019 to 2022, continuing the family’s strong football tradition.
Personal Life
Hunter Henry married his college sweetheart, Parker Schmidly, on June 30, 2018. The couple has one son and one daughter. Henry is a Christian and has spoken openly about the central role of his faith in his life and career, noting that his father is a pastor in Little Rock.
2025 Season Performance
Hunter Henry enters the 2025 season as the established starting tight end for the New England Patriots following his March 2024 contract extension. The Patriots will look to him as a veteran leader and a reliable target in the passing game. His prior production of 66 catches for 674 yards in 2024 sets a strong baseline heading into the new year.
Henry’s value to the offense has long centered on his red-zone efficiency, as evidenced by his career-high nine touchdown receptions in 2021. With continuity in his role, he is positioned to remain one of the team’s most trusted receiving options.
Beyond individual statistics, Henry’s experience and leadership are expected to help guide a developing Patriots offense. His chemistry with the quarterback room and his track record of steady production make him a central figure in the team’s 2025 plans.