TJ Hockenson

Thomas James “T. J.” Hockenson is a standout National Football League (NFL) tight end for the Minnesota Vikings, widely regarded among the league’s top-tier at his position. After a decorated high school career—where he set multiple receiving records and earned all-state honors—he attended the University of Iowa, winning the prestigious John Mackey Award in 2018 as college football’s best tight end, while also earning first-team All-American and Big Ten honors.

Drafted eighth overall in the 2019 NFL Draft by the Detroit Lions, Hockenson made an immediate impact, recording 131 receiving yards on six catches in his debut—a single-game rookie tight end record and the best debut performance by a tight end since 1974. He earned his first Pro Bowl selection in 2020 after posting 67 receptions, 723 yards, and six touchdowns. The following season, despite a thumb injury cutting his season short, he still caught 61 passes for 583 yards.

Midway through the 2022 season, the Lions traded Hockenson to the Vikings. He quickly became a key weapon in Minnesota’s offense, breaking the team record for most receptions by a Vikings tight end in a season (95) with 960 yards and five touchdowns in 2023—earning a second Pro Bowl nod along the way. That season, he also became the first tight end in NFL history to record 10+ receptions, 125+ yards, and a touchdown all in a single half of a game.

A dynamic pass‑catcher with elite route-running instincts and contested‑catch ability, Hockenson is hailed as one of the top five tight ends in the league by NFL executives and scouts. However, a torn ACL and MCL suffered led to him being placed on the disabled list at the start of the 2024 season.