Tanner Hudson

BIOGRAPHY

Tanner Hudson, born November 12, 1994, is a distinguished American athlete with a thriving professional career in football as a tight end for the Cincinnati Bengals, a team in the National Football League (NFL). Raised in Paris, Tennessee, and later, Big Sandy, Tennessee, Hudson had an interest in sports from a young age.

Education played a significant role in Hudson’s life as he studied and fashioned his primary sports career at Southern Arkansas University. But prior to that, he had been a student at Camden Central High School, where his affinity for football and basketball was evident. Hudson’s talent as a football player was flexible and recognizable, playing as a quarterback, kicker, and punter with remarkable accolades. He was particularly appreciated for his punting skills, having been awarded the District 11-AA Most Valuable Punter in his junior year. Unfortunately, an injury cut his senior football season short, limiting his game appearances.

Initially starting his college football journey at Memphis, Hudson redshirted during his freshman season, keeping him off the field for a given period, allowing him to extend his college career. Recognizing a need for change, he enrolled at Southern Arkansas University after his redshirt year. His first season with the Muleriders witnessed a change in his football duties from quarterback and punter to wide receiver and ultimately, a tight end.

His consecutive three seasons of college football were characterized by remarkable achievements. In his junior year, Hudson set new career records with 48 catches, 763 receiving yards, and nine touchdown receptions. His significant contributions to the team also earned him second-team All-Great American Conference (GAC) while also finishing third in the conference in yards per punt at 41.9. As a senior, he was recognized as a first-team All-GAC member and a second-team All-American by the American Football Coaches Association and the Division II Conference Commissioner’s Association. By the end of his successful collegiate career, he had made 143 receptions for 2,152 yards and 25 touchdown catches.

In 2018, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers signed Hudson as an undrafted free agent. After being cut from the final roster at the end of the training camp, he was re-signed to the Buccaneers practice squad. Although he made the final roster for the 2018 season, he unfortunately did not appear in any season games.

The following year, Hudson had a significant professional breakthrough when he made his NFL debut against the Tennessee Titans, making his first-ever career pass with a 12-yard reception. He finished the season with two receptions for 26 yards in nine games, including one start.

Following this, Hudson signed a one-year contract to play with the Buccaneers for yet another season. For that year, an improved season had Hudson finishing with three receptions on seven targets for 41 yards. The crowning moment of the season came when he participated in the Buccaneers’ victory against Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LV.

In 2021, Hudson was signed under an exclusive-rights free agent tender by the Buccaneers, ahead of the releasing of the official team roster. However, before the 2022 season could begin, Hudson moved teams, signing with the San Francisco 49ers practice squad. He quickly moved up the ranks to the active roster in the new year.

In a series of shifts in 2022, Hudson was waived and re-signed to the 49ers practice squad ahead of signing a reserve/future contract with them, only to be waived again. In a surprising move, in August 2022, the New York Giants snapped up Hudson to add to their squad.

However, this stint was short-lived, and Hudson was released in December, finding a new home with the Cincinnati Bengals. His first season with the Bengals marked his best statistical season of his career recording 39 receptions for 352 yards and a touchdown. Having proved his worth, Hudson re-signed with the Bengals to continue adding value to the team in 2024. This short biography provides a comprehensive look into the successful NFL journey of Tanner Hudson, an exceptional talent on the gridiron.