Chris Herndon
Personal information
Born: (1996-02-23) February 23, 1996 (age 27)
Norcross, Georgia, U.S.
Height:6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Weight:253 lb (115 kg)
Career information
High school:Norcross
College:Miami (FL)
Position:Tight end
NFL Draft:2018 / Round: 4 / Pick: 107
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Receptions:75
Receiving yards:836
Receiving touchdowns:8
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

Christopher Herndon IV (born February 23, 1996)[1] is an American football tight end who is a free agent. He played college football at Miami (FL) and was drafted by the New York Jets in the fourth round of the 2018 NFL Draft.

Early years

Herndon was born with postaxial polydactyly and had two of his twelve fingers surgically removed shortly after birth.[2] Herndon attended and played high school football at Norcross High School in Norcross, Georgia.[3]

College career

Herndon attended and played college football at the University of Miami from 2015 to 2017.[4] During his collegiate career, he recorded 86 receptions for 1,048 receiving yards and seven receiving touchdowns.[5]

Collegiate statistics

Chris Herndon
Year School Conf Class Pos G Rec Yds Avg
2015 Miami (FL) ACC SO TE 10 18 237 13.2
2016 Miami (FL) ACC JR TE 13 28 334 11.9
2017 Miami (FL) ACC SR TE 11 40 477 11.9
Career Miami (FL) 86 1,048 12.2

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand span 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump Bench press
6 ft 3+3⁄4 in
(1.92 m) 		253 lb
(115 kg) 		32+7⁄8 in
(0.84 m) 		9+1⁄4 in
(0.23 m)		 4.59 s 7.38 s 34.0 in
(0.86 m)		 9 ft 8 in
(2.95 m)		 21 reps
All values from NFL Combine/Miami’s Pro Day[6][7]

New York Jets

The New York Jets selected Herndon in the fourth round with the 107th overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft.[8] Herndon was the sixth tight end drafted in 2018.[9] On May 21, 2018, the Jets signed Herndon to a four-year, $3.17 million contract that includes a signing bonus of $711,364.[10]

External videos
video icon Jets draft Chris Herndon 107th overall

Throughout training camp, Herndon competed to be the starting tight end against Eric Tomlinson, Clive Walford, Neal Sterling, and Jordan Leggett.[11] Head coach Todd Bowles named Herndon the fourth tight end on the depth chart to begin the regular season, behind Tomlinson, Sterling, and Leggett.[12]

He made his professional regular season debut in the Jets’ season-opening 48–17 win at the Detroit Lions. In Week 2, Herndon earned his first career start and caught his two passes for 30-yards to mark the first receptions of his career during a 20–12 loss against the Miami Dolphins.[13] On October 14, 2018, Herndon caught two passes for 56 receiving yards and scored his first career touchdown during a 42–34 win against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 6. Herndon caught his first career touchdown reception on a 32-yard pass from fellow rookie Sam Darnold during the third quarter.[14] In Week 12, Herndon caught a season-high seven receptions for 57-yards during a 27–13 loss against the New England Patriots.[15] On December 23, 2018, he caught six passes for a season-high 82 receiving yards and scored a touchdown as the Jets lost 44–38 against the Green Bay Packers in Week 16.[16] Herndon gradually became the Jets’ primary receiving tight end during the season and surpassed Neal Sterling and Jordan Leggett on the depth chart. He finished the season as the Jets second-leading receiver behind Robby Anderson with 39 receptions for 502 yards and four touchdowns.[17][18] He finished first among all rookie tight ends in receptions and touchdowns and second in receiving yards.[citation needed] He was named to Pro Football Writers of America All-Rookie Team, becoming the fourth Jets tight end to receive this award, joining Johnny Mitchell (1992), Anthony Becht (2000), & Jace Amaro (2014).[19]

Herndon was suspended the first four games of the 2019 season for violating the NFL’s policy and program on substances of abuse.[20] He was reinstated from suspension on October 7, 2019, and activated prior to Week 7. On November 12, 2019, Herndon was placed on injured reserve after a season ending injury.[21]

Minnesota Vikings

On August 31, 2021, the Jets traded Herndon and a sixth-round 2022 NFL Draft pick to the Minnesota Vikings for a 2022 fourth-round pick.[22]

New Orleans Saints

On August 3, 2022, Herndon signed with the New Orleans Saints.[23] On August 23, 2022, he was released.[24] He was suspended for eight games on November 16, 2022.[25]

References

  1. ^ "Chris Herndon Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on April 1, 2020. Retrieved March 17, 2020.
  2. ^ Cimini, Rich (November 21, 2018). "Jets rookie tight end has special hands -- even without 12 fingers". ESPN.com. Archived from the original on April 7, 2022. Retrieved September 23, 2020.
  3. ^ Brigman, Brandon (June 23, 2013). "Norcross' Herndon commits to Miami". Gwinnett Prep Sports. Archived from the original on July 4, 2023. Retrieved December 5, 2018.
  4. ^ "Christopher Herndon IV College Stats". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Archived from the original on October 3, 2018. Retrieved October 4, 2018.
  5. ^ "Christopher Herndon IV Career Game Log". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Archived from the original on October 4, 2018. Retrieved October 4, 2018.
  6. ^ "Chris Herndon Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Archived from the original on June 29, 2021. Retrieved December 28, 2018.
  7. ^ "Christopher Herndon, Miami (FL), TE, 2018 NFL Draft Scout, NCAA College Football". draftscout.com. Archived from the original on February 19, 2022. Retrieved February 18, 2022.
  8. ^ "2018 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on January 8, 2021. Retrieved May 18, 2023.
  9. ^ Butchko, John (April 28, 2018). "Chris Herndon IV selected by Jets with 107th pick in 2018 NFL Draft". GangGreenNation.com. Archived from the original on July 3, 2018. Retrieved July 2, 2018.
  10. ^ "Spotrac.com: Christopher Herndon contract". Spotrac.com. Archived from the original on December 29, 2018. Retrieved December 28, 2018.
  11. ^ "Tight End Competition Getting Lots Of Attention At Jets Camp". CBS - New York. August 6, 2018. Archived from the original on December 29, 2018. Retrieved December 28, 2018.
  12. ^ Wells, MacGregor (September 4, 2018). "The 2018 Jets Opening Day Depth Chart". GangGreenNation.com. Archived from the original on October 26, 2018. Retrieved December 28, 2018.
  13. ^ "Miami Dolphins at New York Jets - September 16th, 2018". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on October 4, 2018. Retrieved October 4, 2018.
  14. ^ Talarico, Anthony (October 14, 2018). "WATCH: Jets rookie TE Chris Herndon hauls in first career touchdown". Jets Wire. Archived from the original on December 6, 2018. Retrieved December 5, 2018.
  15. ^ "New England Patriots at New York Jets - November 25th, 2018". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on March 30, 2023. Retrieved July 2, 2023.
  16. ^ "Green Bay Packers at New York Jets - December 23rd, 2018". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on December 4, 2022. Retrieved July 2, 2023.
  17. ^ "2018 New York Jets Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees, Injury Reports". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on May 3, 2023. Retrieved July 2, 2023.
  18. ^ "Chris Herndon 2018 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on November 11, 2020. Retrieved July 2, 2023.
  19. ^ Brandt, Gil (January 23, 2019). "Baker Mayfield, Saquon Barkley lead 2018 NFL All-Rookie Team". NFL.com. Archived from the original on January 26, 2019. Retrieved December 20, 2019.
  20. ^ "Chris Herndon Suspended Four Games by NFL". NewYorkJets.com. July 12, 2019. Archived from the original on December 2, 2019. Retrieved November 21, 2019.
  21. ^ Greenberg, Ethan (November 12, 2019). "Jets Place RG Brian Winters, TE Chris Herndon on Injured Reserve". NewYorkJets.com. Archived from the original on November 13, 2019. Retrieved November 21, 2019.
  22. ^ Allen, Eric (August 31, 2021). "Jets Acquire 4th-Rounder from Vikings in Exchange for TE Chris Herndon, Pick". newyorkjets.com. Archived from the original on August 31, 2021. Retrieved August 31, 2021.
  23. ^ Gould, Andrew (August 3, 2022). "Saints Release Tight End Following Veteran Signing". SI.com. Archived from the original on August 3, 2022. Retrieved August 3, 2022.
  24. ^ "New Orleans Saints announce roster moves". NewOrleansSaints.com. August 23, 2022. Archived from the original on April 7, 2023. Retrieved July 2, 2023.
  25. ^ Wacker, Brian (November 16, 2022). "Ex-Jets tight end Chris Herndon suspended for rest of 2022 NFL season". NYPost.com. Archived from the original on November 22, 2022. Retrieved July 2, 2023.

External links

New York Jets 2018 NFL Draft selections
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