Tight end Hunter Henry is back with the New England Patriots after signing a three-year extension this offseason, but the team is very different than what he's used to.
The Bill Belichick era has officially come to a close, as despite his dominance over two decades, it was time for a new voice in the locker room. That new voice comes in the form of new head coach Jerod Mayo, who knows the team inside and out while bringing his own brand of leadership.
As the Patriots head into this new era, Henry, now one of the team's veterans at 29 years old, wants to help build the culture back up.
"Obviously, last year wasn't what we wanted to be at all," Henry told Patriots.com. "Change needed to happen and I'm excited to be part of that change, hopefully for the better, and to lead those guys, hang out with them, build more camaraderie, and build a culture here that we can carry for years on end."
Compared to when he first came to New England back in 2021, Henry has also changed on a personal level. He and his wife Parker have become parents to two children (one son and one daughter) during his time with the Patriots, and matured into a leader on and off the field.
"This place will always hold a special place in my heart," Henry said.
"I had both of my kids here, and we came here when we were young. It's a special place, Parker and I both love it here, and are excited for three more years."
Henry and Mayo may work on different sides of the ball from one another, but the two have grown quite close recently and the tight end has fully bought in to the coach's philosophy.
"He is a great coach as well so seeing that on the football field and then also knowing him off the field, I think both of those things together really impacted me in a lot of ways. I was fired up once he got the head coaching job and I'm excited to see him as a head coach."
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