Tanner Hudson

Tanner Hudson (born November 12, 1994) is an American football tight end for the Cincinnati Bengals of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Southern Arkansas.

Early life and high school
Hudson was born in Paris, Tennessee, and grew up in Big Sandy, Tennessee. He attended Camden Central High School, where he played football and basketball. In football, Hudson played quarterback, kicker, and punter and was named the District 11-AA Most Valuable Punter as a junior after averaging 38.7 yards per punt while also passing for 581 yards and seven touchdowns with 152 yards and three touchdowns rushing. His senior season was cut short after four games due to injury.

College career
Hudson began his collegiate career as a quarterback and punter at Memphis, redshirting his freshman season. He opted to transfer to Southern Arkansas University following his redshirt year.

In his first season with the Muleriders, Hudson changed positions to wide receiver and eventually tight end while handling the team's punting duties. In each of his last three seasons Hudson caught at least 40 passes and had over 600 receiving yards. In his junior season, he set career highs with 48 catches, 763 receiving yards and nine touchdown receptions and was named second-team All-Great American Conference (GAC) while also finishing third in the conference in yards per punt with 41.9. As a senior, Hudson had 43 receptions for 624 yards and six touchdowns and was named first-team All-GAC and a second-team All-American by the American Football Coaches Association and the Division II Conference Commissioner's Association. He finished his collegiate career with 143 receptions for 2,152 yards and 25 touchdown catches.

2018
Hudson signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as an undrafted free agent on April 29, 2018. He was cut at the end of training camp but was re-signed to the Buccaneers practice squad on September 2, 2018. Hudson was promoted to the active roster for the final two weeks of the 2018 season, but did not appear in either game.

2019
Hudson made the Buccaneers final roster to begin the 2019 season. Hudson made his NFL debut on October 27, 2019, against the Tennessee Titans. Hudson caught his first career pass, a 12-yard reception from Jameis Winston, on November 3, 2019, in a 40–33 loss to the Seattle Seahawks. Hudson finished the season with two receptions for 26 yards in nine games played with one start.

2020
Hudson re-signed with the Buccaneers on a one-year contract on March 13, 2020. He was waived by the Buccaneers during final roster cuts on September 5, 2020, and was signed to the practice squad the following day. He was elevated to the active roster on September 19 for the team's week 2 game against the Carolina Panthers, and reverted to the practice squad the day after the game. He was promoted to the active roster on September 23, 2020. Hudson finished the season with three receptions on seven targets for 41 yards. Hudson played in the Super Bowl LV victory over the Kansas City Chiefs, earning a single target.

Hudson was given an exclusive-rights free agent tender by the Buccaneers on March 9, 2021. He was released on August 31, 2021.

2021
On September 3, 2021, Hudson was signed to the San Francisco 49ers practice squad. He was promoted to the active roster on January 1, 2022. He was waived on January 7, 2022, and re-signed to the practice squad. He signed a reserve/future contract with the 49ers on February 2, 2022. He was waived on August 23.

2022
On August 25, 2022, the New York Giants signed Hudson. On December 3, 2022, Hudson was waived.

2022
On December 6, 2022, the Cincinnati Bengals signed Hudson to their practice squad. He signed a reserve/future contract on January 31, 2023.

2023
Hudson was released on August 29, 2023, and signed back to the practice squad the following day. On September 25, he was promoted to the active roster and reverted back to the practice squad after the Week 3 game against the Los Angeles Rams. Ahead of the Bengals Week 4 game against the Titans, Hudson was elevated a second time to the active roster on September 30. On November 1, Hudson was signed to the active roster. Hudson started the Week 9 game against the Buffalo Bills, and netted 4 receptions for 45 yards. The following week against the Houston Texans he had a career-high six receptions in the game, five of which came in the first quarter alone.

Hudson scored his first career touchdown in Week 14 win against the Indianapolis Colts. He finished the season with 39 receptions for 352 yards in addition to his one touchdown, making 2023 his best statistical season of his career.

On March 15, 2024, Hudson re-signed with the Bengals.