Kerry Hyder Jr.

Kerry Hyder Jr., born on May 2, 1991, is an American football player, best known for his position as a defensive end. While he is currently without a team, Hyder has an extensive history in the American football world, stretching from his high school years to his experiences in the NFL.

Born and brought up in Austin, Texas, Hyder pursued his passion for football from a young age. He played as a linebacker and defensive end for Lyndon B. Johnson High School, where he proved his prodigious talent on the field, earning the ranking as a 3-star prospect from Rivals.com. After receiving offers from a host of schools including Cincinnati, Iowa State, Minnesota, New Mexico, Texas Tech, Toledo, and Utah, Hyder finally decided to accept a scholarship from Texas Tech in 2009.

Kerry Hyder redshirted his freshman season and played in eleven games in his redshirt freshman season in 2010, logging 13 tackles and 3.5 tackles for a loss. The following year, he emerged as a force to be reckoned with on the Red Raiders, starting all 12 games and collecting an impressive 42 tackles, 5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, and a forced fumble.

Hyder’s 2012 season secured his position as a key player for Texas Tech. He was given preseason All-Big 12 Conference listings by multiple organizations and concluded the season with All-Big 12 Conference honors from authorities such as Phil Steele, the Austin-American Statesman, the Associated Press, and CBS Sports. Then, his senior year in 2013 saw him draw even more recognition, with preseason All-Big 12 Conference placements and entries for esteemed awards such as the Lombardi Award, Bronko Nagurski Award, and Outland Trophy.

Following college, Hyder was taken on as an undrafted free agent defensive tackle by the New York Jets on May 11, 2014, signing a three-year, $1.53 million contract. However, Hyder was released on August 30, 2014, and was later moved to the team’s practice squad.

A new chapter opened for Hyder when he was signed to a reserve/future contract by the Detroit Lions on January 6, 2015. Hyder transformed himself for the 2016 season, shedding 35 pounds and switching to defensive end, which resulted in a promotion to the Lions’ active roster and leading the team in sacks and tackles for loss by the season end.

However, the following 2017 preseason bore bad news for Hyder, as he sustained a season-ending Achilles injury in a game against the Indianapolis Colts, leading to a place on injured reserve on August 15, 2017. Despite this setback, Hyder returned to the Lions in 2018, re-signing on a year-long contract extension, playing in 8 games and accumulating 6 tackles, and one sack.

In 2019, Hyder signed a one-year, $1 million contract with the Dallas Cowboys, playing in all 16 games and securing 19 tackles, one sack, and one fumble recovery. Following this, he signed another one-year deal with the San Francisco 49ers in 2020, which was extended by an injury to other players, allowing Hyder to start as the right defensive end and achieve career-highs in tackles, sacks, and fumble recoveries.

Hyder joined the Seattle Seahawks in 2021 on a two-year, $6.80 million contract, playing in 15 games and making 33 tackles, 1.5 sacks, and two fumble recoveries. However, he was released from the team in 2022 and reinstated with the 49ers. Following his tenure at the 49ers, he was signed to the Houston Texans’ practice squad in October 2023. After a brief stint on the active roster and then back to the practice squad, Hyder’s contract expired after the season, making him a free agent.

Throughout his career, Hyder has consistently demonstrated his gridiron prowess on the field, rising up after every setback and leaving a significant mark on all the teams he has been a part of. While Hyder is currently a free agent, his career thus far tells a story of resilience and dedication in the tough and challenging world of American football.