The Cincinnati Bengals brought it right down to the deadline but ultimately chose not to place the franchise tag on star pass rusher Trey Hendrickson, setting him up to become an unrestricted free agent — where he’ll likely be one of, if not the most prominent name available.
While Cincinnati could still attempt to re-sign him, that now appears unlikely after Hendrickson broke his silence on social media, sharing a clear parting message to the Bengals organization, the city of Cincinnati and his teammates.
Hendrickson spent the past five seasons anchoring the defense, helping lead the franchise to back-to-back AFC Championship Game appearances and a Super Bowl berth during the 2021 season.
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“To the Organization: Thank you for the opportunity to play the game I love at the highest level. The last 5 years have been filled with Great wins & Tough losses,” Hendrickson wrote in a statement. “Personal achievements & humbling adversities. I was & always will be proud to have worn the Cincinnati Bengals logo & honor the history behind it.
“To my Teammates: Thank you for helping me become the player I always dreamed of becoming,” he added. “The constant push to be the best was infectious from players that made up our rosters over the years. It’s been an incredibly humbling experience to be surrounded by such great people who believed in me in some of the biggest moments. I’ve been so blessed by friendships l’ve made over the years. I know those relationships will continue long after football.
“To the Cincinnati Fans: Thank you for supporting me in the relentless pursuit of winning. You’ve made the Jungle Roar when I hunted QB after QB! Memories of those moments will live in my heart & mind forever. The hard work this city puts in and its support for our Bengals made it easy to empty the tank for this fanbase! I could not be more proud of the high standards we have for our city & football team. Cincinnati is Home. Now & Forever. God has blessed me with the abilities I was able to showcase here. To God be the Glory!”
Hendrickson’s time in Cincinnati will certainly be well remembered by Bengals fans, as he not only led the league in sacks in 2024 but was dominant throughout his tenure with the organization, serving as a primary leader year after year.
He started 70 of the 72 games he appeared in, recording 171 tackles, 61.0 sacks, 56 tackles for loss, 120 quarterback hits and 12 forced fumbles over his five seasons.
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