T.J. Hockenson

BIOGRAPHY

Thomas James Hockenson (T.J.) was born on July 3rd, 1997 in Chariton, Iowa. He is a tight end in the NFL.

Hockenson attended Chariton High School in Iowa, where he was a four-year letter winner in football as a tight end and defensive back. He set school records for most receiving yards in a game, season and career and led his team to the state playoffs as a senior. He was named First-Team All-State and ranked as one of the highest-rated recruits in the state of Iowa in 2016. He received interest from Eastern Michigan, Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State, Minnesota, and Iowa. He signed with Iowa on 06/19/2015.

At Iowa, he redshirted his true freshman year and was one of two starting tight ends alongside Noah Fant, who also would go on to the NFL. In 2017, he had a breakout game against the then-number 3 team nationally, Ohio State. During that game he recorded a team-high five receptions for 71 yards and two touchdowns, upsetting the Buckeyes. Hockenson was listed on the preseason watch list for the John Mackey Award going into the 2018 season, as was teammate Noah Fant. In an early-season loss to rival Wisconsin, Hockenson set a career-high with 125 receiving yards, including a 46-yard connection from quarterback Nate Stanley. He again eclipsed the 100-yard mark in an October 13 game against Indiana, where he recorded four receptions for 107 yards and two touchdowns. He ultimately finished the season with 46 receptions for 717 yards and six receiving touchdowns, leading the Hawkeyes in the first two categories and finishing one receiving touchdown behind Fant for the team lead. He was named first-team All-Big Ten at tight end by the media voters and second-team behind Fant by the coaches. He also won the Big Ten's tight end of the year award, the Kwalick–Clark Award. Hockenson was awarded the John Mackey Award, honoring him as the top tight end in college football in 2018. He is the second Hawkeye to receive the award, after Dallas Clark in 2002, and the first sophomore.

On January 14, 2019, Hockenson announced via Twitter that he would be leaving school early to declare for the 2019 NFL Draft. Thomas James Hockenson was selected in the first round, eighth overall, by the Detroit Lions in the 2019 NFL draft. On May 19th he signed a four-year deal with the Lions worth $19 million. He finished his rookie season with 32 receptions for 367 yards and two touchdowns.

In his 2020 season, he made the pro bowl.

On November 1, 2022, Hockenson was traded to the Minnesota Vikings. In his first year with the Vikings he was selected to the Pro Bowl.