Trey Hendrickson Breaks Silence With Parting Message to Bengals

NFL star pass rusher thanks Cincinnati organization, teammates, and fans after entering free agency

Mar. 3, 2026 at 10:37pm

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NFL superstar Trey Hendrickson has broken his silence with a parting message to the Cincinnati Bengals organization, his teammates, and the city's fans after the team chose not to place the franchise tag on him, making him an unrestricted free agent. Hendrickson spent the past five seasons as a key part of the Bengals' defense, helping lead the team to back-to-back AFC Championship Game appearances and a Super Bowl berth in 2021.

Why it matters

Hendrickson's departure is a significant loss for the Bengals, as he has been one of the league's top pass rushers over the past several seasons. His leadership and production will be difficult to replace, and his parting message highlights the strong connection he developed with the organization and community during his time in Cincinnati.

The details

In his statement, Hendrickson expressed gratitude to the Bengals organization for the opportunity to play at the highest level, his teammates for helping him become the player he dreamed of, and the Cincinnati fans for their unwavering support. He noted that the city of Cincinnati will always be 'home' and that he is proud to have worn the Bengals logo. Over his five seasons with the team, Hendrickson started 70 of 72 games, recording 171 tackles, 61.0 sacks, 56 tackles for loss, 120 quarterback hits, and 12 forced fumbles.

  • Hendrickson spent the past five seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals.
  • The Bengals chose not to place the franchise tag on Hendrickson, making him an unrestricted free agent in 2026.

The players

Trey Hendrickson

A star pass rusher who spent the past five seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals, helping lead the team to back-to-back AFC Championship Game appearances and a Super Bowl berth in 2021.

Cincinnati Bengals

The NFL team that Hendrickson played for over the past five seasons, where he established himself as one of the league's top pass rushers.

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What they’re saying

“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, Personal achievements & humbling adversities. I was & always will be proud to have worn the Cincinnati Bengals logo & honor the history behind it.”

— Trey Hendrickson

“To my Teammates: Thank you for helping me become the player I always dreamed of becoming. 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.”

— Trey Hendrickson

“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!”

— Trey Hendrickson

What’s next

The Bengals will now need to determine how to replace Hendrickson's production and leadership on their defense as they head into the 2026 season.

The takeaway

Trey Hendrickson's parting message to the Bengals organization, teammates, and fans highlights the strong bond he developed during his five seasons in Cincinnati, where he emerged as one of the NFL's premier pass rushers. His departure is a significant loss for the team, but his words reflect the lasting impact he made both on and off the field.