Bengals make sure to keep one of Joe Burrow’s favorite players weeks before they had to do anything
Cincinnati has extended the contract of veteran tight end Tanner Hudson.
The Cincinnati Bengals have extended tight end Tanner Hudson.
Cincinnati announced Hudson’s one-year contract extension Monday morning when the veteran TE put pen-to-paper in Paycor Stadium.
Hudson has played in 38 games (two starts) for the Bengals since first signing on as a practice squad player late in the 2022 season. He’s hauled in 77 receptions for 674 yards and four touchdowns for Cincinnati. In 2025, he posted 19 receptions for 168 yards and two TDs in 15 games played.
One of those touchdowns was quite memorable, and sparked a meaningful endorsement from none other than quarterback Joe Burrow.
Extending Tanner Hudson will help keep Joe Burrow happy
While Hudson isn’t one of Burrow’s top receiving targets or a starter along his offensive line, the 31-year old has been largely reliable when the two-time Comeback Player of the Year has thrown his way. Never was that more evident than in Week 13 of this past season when Hudson caught Burrow’s first TD pass since returning from turf toe surgery.
This wasn’t an ordinary toss-and-snag, it was a beautiful ball from Burrow caught with one-hand against Baltimore Ravens All-Pro safety Kyle Hamilton in coverage.
The play happened in the middle of the third quarter, and yet it was Hudson’s sixth offensive snap of the night. That fact was not lost on Burrow.
“I’ve been his biggest fan since he got here,” Burrow said of Hudson after Cincy’s Thanksgiving night win in Baltimore. “It’s not easy being in that spot when you’re the third or fourth tight end, and you might get two snaps in certain spots in the game, and it’s cold outside, you’re on the sideline, you’ve got to stay warm, and then you’ve got to come in and catch a back pylon throw against Kyle Hamilton. That’s not easy. He’s always been ready for his number to be called, so credit to him for that.”
Cincinnati has retained Hudson every time since first adding him, all via one-year deals. This is the earliest he’s been ever been extended as an impending free agent. He signed a Reserve/Futures deal in 2023, and was a March re-signing in both 2024 and 2025.
The Bengals could’ve waited several more weeks to finalize business with Hudson. Free agency doesn’t officially open until Mar. 11. They chose to get him back earlier than ever before.
Hudson keeps getting his number called in the offseason, and will continue being there for Burrow when needed during the season.
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