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). Standing 6 ft 5 in and weighing 241 lb, Hudson has carved out a steady role as a pass-catching tight end after entering the league as an undrafted free agent in 2018. He is a Super Bowl champion from his time with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and is currently in his fourth season with the Bengals.
Across his NFL career, Hudson has appeared in regular-season games for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, San Francisco 49ers, New York Giants, and Cincinnati Bengals, posting 89 receptions for 838 receiving yards and 4 receiving touchdowns through Week 15 of the 2025 season. Known for his work in the red zone and on special teams coverage units, he has built a reputation as a dependable, journeyman contributor.
Early Life and Background
Tanner Hudson was born on November 12, 1994, in Paris, Tennessee, and grew up in nearby Big Sandy, Tennessee. He attended Camden Central High School in Camden, where he was a multi-sport athlete in both football and basketball. His small-town Tennessee roots shaped his early work ethic, and he became a versatile football player for the Camden Central squad.
At Camden Central, Hudson lined up at quarterback, kicker, and punter, showing the kind of flexibility that would later help him transition to tight end in college. As a junior, he was named the District 11-AA Most Valuable Punter after averaging 38.7 yards per punt. That same season, he added 581 passing yards and seven passing touchdowns, plus 152 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns. His senior season was cut short after only four games due to injury, but his high school career had already put him on the radar of college programs.
Path to the NFL
Hudson began his collegiate career as a quarterback and punter at the University of Memphis, where he redshirted his freshman season. After that redshirt year, he opted to transfer to Southern Arkansas University, seeking a clearer path to the field and a fresh start at a different position. The move ultimately defined his career trajectory.
At Southern Arkansas, Hudson moved to wide receiver and eventually to tight end while continuing to handle punting duties for the Muleriders. In each of his final three college seasons, he caught at least 40 passes for more than 600 receiving yards. As a junior, he posted career highs of 48 receptions, 763 receiving yards, and nine touchdown catches, earning second-team All-Great American Conference (GAC) honors while also finishing third in the conference in yards per punt at 41.9. As a senior, he added 43 receptions for 624 yards and six touchdowns, was named first-team All-GAC, and earned second-team All-American recognition from the American Football Coaches Association and the Division II Conference Commissioner’s Association. He wrapped up his college 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 but rejoined the Buccaneers on the practice squad on September 2, 2018. He was promoted to the active roster for the final two weeks of the 2018 season, though he did not appear in either game.
Hudson made the Buccaneers’ final roster to begin the 2019 season and made his NFL debut on October 27, 2019, against the Tennessee Titans. A week later, on November 3, 2019, he caught his first career pass, a 12-yard reception from Jameis Winston, in a 40-33 loss to the Seattle Seahawks. He finished 2019 with two receptions for 26 yards across nine games, with one start. After re-signing on a one-year contract in March 2020, he bounced between the practice squad and active roster and ended the year with three receptions for 41 yards. He was a member of the Buccaneers roster for Super Bowl LV, a victory over the Kansas City Chiefs, earning a single target in that championship game and his first career Super Bowl ring.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Departure and 49ers Stint (2021-2022)
The Buccaneers tendered Hudson as an exclusive-rights free agent in March 2021 before releasing him on August 31, 2021. He quickly caught on with the San Francisco 49ers’ practice squad on September 3, 2021, and was promoted to the active roster on January 1, 2022. His time in San Francisco was brief, however, as he was waived, re-signed to the practice squad, and eventually let go again in late August 2022. The 49ers stint showed that Hudson could clear a practice-squad bar in a top organization, even if it did not produce regular-season statistics.
Cincinnati Bengals Era (2022-Present)
On August 25, 2022, the New York Giants signed Hudson, but he was waived on December 3 of the same year. Just three days later, on December 6, 2022, the Cincinnati Bengals added him to their practice squad. He signed a reserve/future contract with Cincinnati on January 31, 2023, and the Bengals quickly became the long-term home he had been searching for since leaving Tampa Bay.
After a short release and return to the practice squad in late August 2023, Hudson was promoted to the active roster in September 2023. He made his first Bengals start in Week 9 against the Buffalo Bills, finishing with four receptions for 45 yards, and posted a career-high six receptions the following week against the Houston Texans, with five of those catches coming in the first quarter. He scored his first career touchdown in a Week 14 win over the Indianapolis Colts, capping a 2023 campaign that included 39 receptions for 352 yards and one touchdown, his best statistical season to that point.
Hudson re-signed with Cincinnati on March 15, 2024, and logged 11 appearances with 19 receptions for 154 yards and one touchdown, along with one rush for one yard. On March 7, 2025, he signed a one-year contract extension, and in 15 appearances (one start) he compiled 19 receptions for 168 yards and two touchdowns. On January 19, 2026, he signed another one-year extension to remain with the Bengals.
Notable Events and Milestones
Hudson’s most defining moment came as a member of the Buccaneers roster for Super Bowl LV, a victory over the Kansas City Chiefs that gave him a championship ring. His first career touchdown, scored against the Indianapolis Colts in 2023, marked a long-awaited milestone after years on practice squads. The back-to-back one-year extensions in 2025 and 2026 reflect the trust the Bengals have built in his versatility and reliability.
Tanner Hudson Career Wins
Tanner Hudson’s most prominent team accomplishment is his Super Bowl LV championship as a member of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. While he has not posted a season-leading win total at the tight end position, his consistent availability and special teams contributions have helped his clubs log winning seasons, including a Bengals squad that reached the AFC Championship. His path from undrafted free agent to multi-year veteran with Cincinnati stands as the headline of his career achievements.
Tanner Hudson Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Hudson was raised in the small Tennessee communities of Paris and Big Sandy, where his multi-sport high school career reflected a tight-knit local support system. He maintains an active presence on social media, including an Instagram account under the handle thudson321, and a presence on X (formerly Twitter) under thudson_321, where he shares updates from his NFL career. Public details about his parents and immediate family are not widely documented.
2025 Season Performance
In the 2025 season, Hudson returned to the Bengals on a one-year extension and played in 15 games with one start, offering Cincinnati a reliable third tight end option and core special teams presence. He finished the campaign with 19 receptions for 168 yards and two touchdowns, showing the same red-zone dependability that defined his 2023 breakout. His role in the Bengals’ tight end rotation allowed younger pass-catchers to develop while keeping the veteran core intact.
That dependable production, combined with his leadership on coverage units, helped Hudson earn another one-year contract extension signed on January 19, 2026, keeping him in Cincinnati through at least the 2026 season. With his statistical resume now totaling 89 receptions, 838 receiving yards, and 4 touchdowns through Week 15 of 2025, Hudson remains a respected veteran presence in the Bengals’ locker room and a steady contributor for a team that has its sights set on another deep postseason run.