Chris Manhertz

BIOGRAPHY

Born on April 10, 1992, in the Bronx, New York, Christopher Manhertz is a renowned professional football tight end player currently signed to the New York Giants of the National Football League (NFL). This nearly 2,500-word bio narrates Manhertz’s journey from his college days to his various professional milestones.

Manhertz’s intriguing, unconventional journey into professional football began at Cardinal Spellman High School and then Canisius College in Buffalo, New York. This Catholic institution had abandoned its football program in 2003, driving Manhertz to the Canisius Golden Griffins men’s basketball team. From 2010 to 2014, he was a prominent player and served as a three-year captain of the squad.

Despite having no prior experience in football, except his acquaintance with the Madden NFL series, Manhertz, after graduating college, determined to transition into professional football. In May 2015, his training efforts were rewarded when he was given a tryout by the Buffalo Bills, who subsequently signed him to a future/reserve contract. However, Coach Rex Ryan made no secret of his scepticism about Manhertz’s chances of making the bill’s final roster. As it happened, Manhertz did not make it after the pre-season and training camp.

Manhertz’s career trajectory took a turn for the better when he joined the New Orleans Saints, post his release by the Bills. He spent a season on the Saint’s practice squad and made it to the Saint’s active roster at the start of the 2016 season. He made his NFL debut on September 18, 2016. The tenure was rather brief as he was released on October 16, 2016.

Taking a stride further, Manhertz was claimed off waivers by the Carolina Panthers on October 17, 2016. His time with the Panthers marked several significant events. In 2017, he played in 16 games with four starts in the place of the injured player Greg Olsen, contributing two catches for 17 yards. Unfortunately, he sustained a high ankle sprain in Week 17 and was placed on injured reserve.

Another significant development in Manhertz’s career came towards the end of 2018. In Week 15 of the 2018 season, Manhertz secured his first career touchdown on a trick play 50-yard pass from running back colleague, Christian McCaffrey.

This led to strong footing with the Panthers as on January 29, 2019, Manhertz signed a two-year contract extension and was named the starter for the 2020 season.

Just as seasons change, so does the game of life. On March 17, 2021, Manhertz took up a new challenge when he inked a two-year, $ 6.65 million contract with the Jacksonville Jaguars. In a Week 1 game against the Houston Texans, he caught a 22-yard touchdown pass from rookie quarterback, Trevor Lawrence, annotating Lawrence’s first career touchdown pass.

Two years later, on March 15, 2023, Manhertz further expanded his professional horizon by signing a two-year contract with the Denver Broncos. This episode ended with his release on March 8, 2024.

On March 16, 2024, Manhertz embarked on another journey by signing with the New York Giants, where he continues to shine as a professional NFL player today. This journey from a basketball player with no prior background in football to an eminent player in the NFL goes on to exhibit his sheer resilience and dedication.