The 2025 New England Patriots are a reconstructed team, with Mike Vrabel engineering about a 50 percent turnover from the 2024 roster. Except for the precocious young quarterback Vrabel inherited, current MVP candidate Drake Maye, most of the attention and rightfully so has been going to the new players on the roster.
Yet, one player from the old regime was recently and deservedly singled out for distinction by Offensive Coordinator Josh McDaniels. It's tight end Hunter Henry.
Others, like two top defensive backs, All-Pro Christian Gonzalez and Marcus Jones, guard Mike Onwenu, and defensive tackle Christian Barmore, are also back and performing well. Yet, the steady Henry seems to be there, performing at the right times.
That aspect of Henry's offense was seldom more clearly manifested than in the 26-20 away win against the Cincinnati Bengals. In that tilt, Henry provided seven receptions for 115 yards and a touchdown. It was his first 100-yard receiving game this season, and it couldn't have come at a better time for his team.
Hunter Henry is consistently good for Drake Maye and the Patriots
Since signing with the Patriots in 2021 after five years with the Chargers, Henry has been a consummate professional. He's steady and solid if not spectacular. While he'll never be compared to a Rob Gronkowski or Travis Kelce, he could contribute to any and every NFL team and do a solid job. Now his coordinator has singled out the soon-to-be 31-year-old for his impact on the 2025 Patriots.
Masslive's Mark Daniels quotes Patriots' Offensive Coordinator Josh McDaniels on what Hunter Henry means to the Patriots.
“'There’s no shortage of ways to describe this,' McDaniels said when asked about Henry’s impact. 'He’s an incredible teammate. He’s one of our most respected workers on our team...After so many years of being in the league, I think he’s continuing to get better at things, which is an incredible example for our younger players...'"
Having veteran leadership on a team transitioning from older to younger can't be overestimated in its impact. Henry and other top veteran talent, like Stefon Diggs, Morgan Moses, Mack Hollins, and Jack Spillane, have not only performed well but also served as role models for Vrabel's younger players.
Hunter Henry might be knocking on the door of a Pro Bowl this season
Henry's 2025 stats are a bit lighter than he'd probably have hoped for thus far. In 12 games, he has 41 catches for 537 yards, but also has five touchdowns with five games to go. Nevertheless, as he showed against Cincinnati, he's capable of breaking out and doing maximum damage in any given game at any given time. And for the Bengals, it signaled lights out.
Henry was the star of the show in Cincinnati, and there's little reason to doubt he can continue his hot streak in the final five games. If he can replicate his stats against the Bengals in a few more games and the Patriots continue their winning ways, Henry could notch an honor he hasn't thus far in his career, a Pro Bowl berth.
Josh McDaniels cited many intangibles about Hunter Henry that appear behind the curtain of an NFL team. NFL winners are comprised not only of superstar players but also of the steady and dependable types who can expand on their usual proficiency and occasionally take over a game. Henry is one of those players.
The hope here is that he can rack up a few more games like the Bengals had in 2025 and be named to the Pro Bowl for the first time. He deserves it.