8-10 was all about 8-5 baby!

Monday August 10th 2026 Hunter Henry signed a two year contract extension with the NE Patriots. 

“It about what have you done for me lately at this level.”

Well, in five years Henry has been an instinctive and consistent part of the Patriots offense. Kicking off the second stage of his career with Bill Belichick, and learning a lot, with 40 plus receptions in each of his five seasons as a Patriot, Henry now has the second longest streak by a Patriots tight end, falling short only to the great Ben Coates.  

So, what has Henry done for them lately? Building a strong bond and even a friendship with franchise quarterback Drake Maye, Henry has put down roots in New England and him and his wife Parker have welcomed three children into the New England world. 

On the field Henry has been a consistent presence. Whilst not always headline news, Henry’s availability and more, has proven he plays at the top level. 

Over his five seasons in the darker shade of blue that he used to, Henry has played 81 regular season games, scoring a total of 26 touchdowns with almost 3000 yards. 

2021 saw Mac Jones in number 10, and Hunter was a key piece of that offense with 50 receptions and 9 touchdowns, but 2025 might be his career high when catching 60 passes from Drake Maye for 7 touchdowns. 

With the tight end room in plenty of flux since Henry took over 85 from the great Ryan Izzo (bit of tongue in cheek inside humour for you lovely lot) the stocks behind Henry haven’t cut the mustard, much. 

In 2021 Jonnu Smith signed in free agency with Henry, but things never really gelled, and Smith was off the roster by 2023. Dalton Keene and Devin Asiasi were still around after being double drafted in 2020, but the 2022 season saw Asiasi and Keene exit, and Matt Sokol was added to the mix. By 2023 Smith was gone but Hunter remained and another athletic tight end was signed in free agency, previous Miami Dolphin Mike Gesiki. 

Alas that signing didn’t work out either, I should have known when the Patriots whiffed on all those smashing TE’s in the 2023 draft selecting just an UDFA of Jonny Lumpkin that my 2023 season wasn’t going to be filled with tight endage…

Jaheim Bell was a promising, if not a late draft pick at 231 in 2024, but that didn’t come to much and he lasted two years in the system. 

Austin Hooper proved to be a great 2024 signing, but he was only a Pat for two years also. 

2025 had a selection of TE’s with CJ Dippre being drafted, Jack Westover still around from 2024, Gee Scott Junior and then Brock Lampe drafted as a fullback.

But through it all (and I know there are a few names that I have missed out!) Hunter Henry remained, and is now a seasoned veteran entering his 11th year in the NFL,  a shining example to the future of the Patriots tight end room, with rookies Eli Raridon and Tanner Arkin. 

It’s taken a while folks, a few false starts, injuries and dashed hopes, but maybe this two year extension of the solidity that is HH, brings about the turning point for that TE room. It gives hope to fans that management is recognising its talent, the ones that benefit the team in the locker room as well as on the field. 

So maybe, just maybe 2026 is the year of the TE… who am I kidding? Every year is the year of TE for me!

Go Pats!