Cole Hikutini Bio
Cole Kenna Hikutini (born June 11, 1994) is an American professional football tight end who currently plays for the Michigan Panthers of the United Football League (UFL). Standing 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) and listed at 240 lb (109 kg), he has built his career as a pass-catching tight end after entering the NFL as an undrafted free agent in 2017. Over the years, he has spent time with the San Francisco 49ers, Minnesota Vikings, Dallas Cowboys, and New York Giants before finding a longer home in the UFL with the Michigan Panthers.
Born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, Hikutini developed his skills at Pleasant Grove High School in Elk Grove, California, before taking a winding college path that included stops at Sacramento State, San Francisco City College, and the University of Louisville. At Louisville, he played alongside Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Lamar Jackson, an experience that helped prepare him for the professional level.
Early Life and Background
Cole Kenna Hikutini was born on June 11, 1994, in San Francisco, California, and grew up in the surrounding region. He attended Pleasant Grove High School in Elk Grove, California, where he was a versatile two-way player on the football team. As a senior, he posted 27 receptions for 536 yards and six touchdowns as a receiver, while also earning second-team All-Delta River League honors as a defensive back. In one standout game against Lincoln High School, he racked up 143 receiving yards and one touchdown.
His high school production drew the attention of college programs, and Hikutini ultimately accepted a football scholarship to Sacramento State. That decision launched a college journey that would take him through three different schools, giving him the chance to mature both as a player and as a prospect preparing for the next level.
Path to American Football
Hikutini’s path to the professional ranks was not a straight line. He began at Sacramento State, where he was redshirted in 2012 and then appeared in nine games as a freshman in 2013, starting the final four and finishing with 21 receptions and five touchdowns. After that season, he transferred to San Francisco City College in 2014, where he caught 40 passes for 658 yards and four touchdowns, demonstrating the kind of production that would catch the eye of a major program.
Following his sophomore season at the junior college level, Hikutini transferred to the University of Louisville. As a junior in 2015, he played in 11 games with three starts, finishing fourth on the team with 19 receptions for 348 yards and three touchdowns. His senior year was his most productive: playing alongside Lamar Jackson, he led the Cardinals with 50 receptions and eight touchdowns while finishing second on the team with 668 receiving yards. That performance earned him second-team All-ACC recognition in 2016, and he suffered a knee injury during Louisville’s Citrus Bowl loss to LSU.
Cole Hikutini Career
Early Career (2017)
Hikutini’s professional career began on May 4, 2017, when he signed with the San Francisco 49ers as an undrafted free agent. He was waived on September 2 but quickly returned when the 49ers signed him to their practice squad the following day. On October 14, he was promoted to the active roster, and in Week 7 he recorded his first career NFL reception, a five-yard catch in a 40–10 loss to the Dallas Cowboys. He was placed on injured reserve on November 6, ending his rookie season.
The 49ers waived Hikutini on September 1, 2018, but he did not stay on the open market for long. Two days later, on September 3, 2018, the Minnesota Vikings signed him to their practice squad, marking the start of his second NFL chapter and the first of several team moves that would shape his career.
Minnesota Vikings Era (2018–2019)
With the Minnesota Vikings, Hikutini spent most of his time developing on the practice squad during the 2018 season. On January 2, 2019, he signed a reserve/future contract with the club, a sign that the organization saw long-term potential in the tight end. He remained with Minnesota through the offseason but was waived on August 31, 2019, as the team shaped its final roster.
Dallas Cowboys Era (2019–2021)
Hikutini latched on with the Dallas Cowboys shortly after his release, signing to their practice squad on September 2, 2019. He spent the bulk of that season on the developmental unit before signing a reserve/future contract on December 30. In 2020, the Cowboys waived him on September 4 and re-signed him to the practice squad the same day, and he signed another reserve/future deal on January 4, 2021. His tenure in Dallas ended on March 19, 2021, when he was waived. During his time with the Cowboys, he worked under head coach Jason Garrett in 2019, a connection that would later play a role in his next stop.
New York Giants Era (2021)
On March 30, 2021, Hikutini signed with the New York Giants, reuniting with offensive coordinator Jason Garrett, who had been his head coach in Dallas in 2019. The signing reflected the staff’s familiarity with his skill set. His time in New York was brief, however, as he was waived/injured on August 24 and placed on injured reserve before being released on September 2.
Michigan Panthers Era (2022–Present)
On October 7, 2022, Hikutini signed with the Michigan Panthers of the United States Football League (USFL), giving him a fresh opportunity to play meaningful snaps. After being placed on the inactive list on May 4, 2023, he was activated a week later and went on to appear in nine games with six starts, recording 21 receptions for 239 yards and five touchdowns. On September 24, 2024, Hikutini re-signed with the Michigan Panthers, solidifying his role with the franchise as the team continued in the UFL.
Driving Style and Strengths
Although he is a tight end rather than a driver, Hikutini’s professional strengths mirror those of a craft-driven veteran. He is at his best as a pass-catcher, using his 6 ft 4 in frame to win in the short and intermediate areas of the field, and he has shown the route-running polish to operate as a reliable target underneath. His experience inside multiple offensive systems, including the one run by Jason Garrett, has made him a steady presence on the practice field and a trusted red-zone option in the UFL.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Hikutini’s signature moments, his first career NFL reception in Week 7 of the 2017 season against the Dallas Cowboys stands out as a personal milestone. His second-team All-ACC selection in 2016 remains his most decorated collegiate honor, earned during a season in which he led Louisville in receptions and touchdowns. In the UFL, his 2023 production of 21 receptions for 239 yards and five touchdowns marked his most consistent professional stretch to date.
Cole Hikutini Career Wins
Cole Kenna Hikutini’s professional resume is built on steady production and perseverance rather than headline-grabbing championship runs. Across his stops in the NFL and the UFL, he has accumulated verified receiving production, including 2 receptions for 15 receiving yards in the NFL regular season and 21 receptions for 239 yards and 5 touchdowns in the UFL with the Michigan Panthers in 2023.
Michigan Panthers Highlights
With the Michigan Panthers, Hikutini has enjoyed his most productive professional stretch. In 2023, he appeared in nine games with six starts and finished with 21 receptions for 239 yards and five touchdowns, emerging as a reliable target in the Panthers’ passing game. His continued presence with the franchise was confirmed when he re-signed with the team on September 24, 2024.
Other Wins and Performances
Outside of his Panthers work, Hikutini’s most notable performances came during his senior season at Louisville in 2016, when he led the team in receptions (50) and touchdowns (8) and finished second in receiving yards (668). That season, capped by his second-team All-ACC selection, remains the statistical benchmark of his career.
Cole Hikutini Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Publicly available information about Cole Kenna Hikutini’s immediate family is limited. Verified biographical details focus on his own journey, including his birthplace in San Francisco, California, and the places he has lived, such as San Francisco, Sacramento, Elk Grove, and Wilton.
Personal Life
Off the field, Hikutini has spent significant time across Northern California, with residences tied to San Francisco, Sacramento, Elk Grove, and Wilton. He is not publicly confirmed to be married, and details about a spouse or children are not part of the verified record. His professional home is now with the Michigan Panthers, where he continues his career in the UFL.
2025 Season Performance
Heading into 2025, Cole Kenna Hikutini returns to the Michigan Panthers in the UFL after re-signing with the franchise on September 24, 2024. His 2023 stat line of 21 receptions for 239 yards and five touchdowns provides a clear baseline for what he can contribute as both a starter and a red-zone target. The continuity of being back with the same organization offers him a chance to build on that production and remain a featured piece of the Panthers’ offense.
His veteran experience, combined with the trust he has earned from the Panthers’ coaching staff, positions him as a steady contributor in 2025. As a player who has navigated practice-squad stints, roster moves, and an injury-shortened rookie year, Hikutini brings a journeyman’s perspective to a young UFL locker room. His role as a pass-catching tight end should keep him involved on key downs, particularly in scoring situations.
With the Michigan Panthers, Hikutini has finally found the kind of long-term home that eluded him during his NFL stops. If he can stay healthy and continue to produce at a rate similar to his 2023 numbers, the 2025 season could mark his most complete professional campaign to date.