Tanner Hudson Bio
Tanner Hudson (born November 12, 1994) is an American professional football tight end for the Cincinnati Bengals of the National Football League (NFL). He first entered the league in 2018 as an undrafted free agent with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and is a Super Bowl champion.
Standing 6 feet 5 inches tall and weighing around 240 pounds, Hudson has built his career on versatility, having played multiple positions across college and the professional ranks. After stints with several organizations, he found a long-term home in Cincinnati, where he produced his strongest statistical season in 2023.
Early Life and Background
Tanner Hudson was born on November 12, 1994, in Paris, Tennessee, and grew up in the nearby community of Big Sandy, Tennessee. He attended Camden Central High School, where he was a multi-sport athlete in both football and basketball. His small-town upbringing shaped a competitive foundation that would later help him adapt to the demands of professional football.
In football at Camden Central, Hudson lined up at quarterback, kicker, and punter. As a junior, he was named the District 11-AA Most Valuable Punter after averaging 38.7 yards per punt while also passing for 581 yards and seven touchdowns and adding 152 rushing yards and three rushing scores. His senior season ended early after four games due to injury, but his early senior production had already drawn college attention.
Path to American Football
Hudson began his college career at the University of Memphis, where he was used as a quarterback and punter before redshirting his freshman season. After that redshirt year, he decided to transfer and continue his development elsewhere.
He landed at Southern Arkansas University, joining the Muleriders and shifting from quarterback to wide receiver and eventually tight end while continuing to handle punting duties. In each of his last three seasons at Southern Arkansas, Hudson caught at least 40 passes and surpassed 600 receiving yards. As a junior he set career highs with 48 catches, 763 receiving yards, and nine touchdowns, earning second-team All-Great American Conference (GAC) recognition. As a senior he added 43 receptions for 624 yards and six scores, was named first-team All-GAC, and was recognized as a second-team All-American by both the American Football Coaches Association and the Division II Conference Commissioner’s Association. He finished his collegiate career with 143 receptions for 2,152 yards and 25 touchdown catches.
Tanner Hudson Career
Early Career (2018-2020)
Hudson signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as an undrafted free agent on April 29, 2018. He was released at the end of training camp and re-signed to the Buccaneers practice squad on September 2, 2018, before being promoted to the active roster for the final two weeks of the season without appearing in a game.
Hudson made Tampa Bay’s final roster to open the 2019 season and made his NFL debut on October 27, 2019, against the Tennessee Titans. He caught his first career pass, a 12-yard reception from Jameis Winston, on November 3, 2019, in a 40-33 loss to the Seattle Seahawks. After re-signing with the Buccaneers on a one-year deal in March 2020, he split time between the practice squad and the active roster that fall and finished the season with three receptions for 41 yards. Hudson was part of the Buccaneers’ Super Bowl LV victory over the Kansas City Chiefs, earning a single target in the game.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Breakthrough (2018-2020)
His most notable early milestone came in 2020, when the Buccaneers won Super Bowl LV against the Kansas City Chiefs. Although his statistical role in that game was limited, he was a member of the championship roster and earned a Super Bowl champion designation.
San Francisco 49ers Era (2021-2022)
On September 3, 2021, Hudson was signed to the San Francisco 49ers practice squad. He was promoted to the active roster on January 1, 2022, waived one week later, and re-signed to the practice squad before signing a reserve/future contract with the 49ers on February 2, 2022. He was waived by San Francisco on August 23, 2022.
New York Giants Era (2022)
On August 25, 2022, the New York Giants signed Hudson. He appeared in a limited role before being waived on December 3, 2022.
Cincinnati Bengals Era (2022-Present)
On December 6, 2022, the Cincinnati Bengals signed Hudson to their practice squad. He signed a reserve/future contract on January 31, 2023, was released on August 29, 2023, and was re-signed to the practice squad the following day. Hudson was elevated to the active roster ahead of the Week 4 game against the Tennessee Titans and was later signed to the active roster on November 1, 2023. He started the Week 9 game against the Buffalo Bills and recorded four receptions for 45 yards, then posted a career-high six receptions the following week against the Houston Texans, with five catches in the first quarter alone. Hudson scored his first career touchdown in a Week 14 win against the Indianapolis Colts. He closed 2023 with 39 receptions for 352 yards and one touchdown, his strongest statistical season to date. He re-signed with the Bengals on March 15, 2024, and on March 7, 2025, signed a one-year contract extension to remain in Cincinnati.
Driving Style and Strengths
Hudson’s profile reflects his college versatility, with the body type and route-running background of a converted receiver paired with the willingness to handle special-teams punting duties earlier in his career. His production spike in 2023, including a career-high six receptions against the Houston Texans and his first career touchdown against the Indianapolis Colts, underscored his growth as a dependable pass-catching tight end within Cincinnati’s offense.
Notable Events and Milestones
Hudson’s signature professional milestone is his Super Bowl LV championship with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He also reached personal firsts in Cincinnati, including his first career touchdown in 2023 and a career-best six receptions in a single game against the Houston Texans. His path from undrafted free agent to a multi-year Bengals contributor has been a defining storyline of his career.
Tanner Hudson Career Wins
Tanner Hudson has compiled a steady professional resume highlighted by team success and individual firsts across multiple organizations. His primary team accomplishment is a Super Bowl LV title with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. In Cincinnati, he has logged his most productive individual statistics and signed a contract extension in 2025.
NFL Highlights
Hudson entered the NFL in 2018 as an undrafted free agent and has since played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, San Francisco 49ers, New York Giants, and Cincinnati Bengals. His 2023 season with the Bengals, with 39 receptions for 352 yards and one touchdown, stands as his most productive statistical campaign. He re-signed with Cincinnati in 2024 and added a one-year extension in 2025.
Other Wins and Performances
At the college level, Hudson earned second-team All-GAC recognition in 2016 and first-team All-GAC honors in 2017 at Southern Arkansas. He was also a second-team All-American by the American Football Coaches Association and the Division II Conference Commissioner’s Association as a senior.
Tanner Hudson Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public information about Tanner Hudson’s parents and extended family is limited. He grew up in Big Sandy, Tennessee, and attended Camden Central High School, where he developed as a multi-sport athlete.
Personal Life
Hudson’s documented personal details are centered on his hometown ties to Paris and Big Sandy, Tennessee. Information about a spouse, partner, or children is not publicly verified at this time.
2025 Season Performance
Hudson enters the 2025 season after re-signing with the Cincinnati Bengals on a one-year contract extension on March 7, 2025. His role within the tight end room builds on a 2023 season in which he posted career-best reception and yardage totals while also recording his first career touchdown.
With continuity in Cincinnati, Hudson is positioned as a returning pass-catching tight end who has already shown the ability to deliver a career-high six-reception game. His development from practice-squad contributor to reliable offensive piece is the central storyline shaping his 2025 outlook.
The Bengals’ tight end rotation and offensive scheme decisions will shape Hudson’s 2025 statistical opportunities. After sustaining his longest NFL tenure in Cincinnati, he enters the year looking to build on his 2023 production and continue his post-Super Bowl career arc.