Trey Hendrickson Posts Goodbye Message To The Bengals

Originally posted on The Spun | By Andrew Gould | Last updated Mar 3, 2026 4:56 PM ET

Trey Hendrickson appeared to confirm the end of his Cincinnati Bengals tenure by posting a farewell letter.

The Bengals did not tag Hendrickson before Tuesday's 4 p.m. ET, making the star defensive lineman an unrestricted free agent. Hendrickson said goodbye in an Instagram post thanking his teammates, coaches, and fans for their support over his five seasons with the organization.

"Thank you for the opportunity to play the game I love at the highest level," Hendrickson wrote. "The last five years have been filled with great wins and tough losses. Personal achievements and humbling adversities. I was and always will be proud to have worn the Cincinnati Bengals logo and honor the history behind it."

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Hendrickson enters free agency

Hendrickson made four straight Pro Bowls for the Bengals after four seasons with the New Orleans Saints. He collected 61 total sacks, tallying 17.5 apiece in 2023 and 2024.

His days with the organization seemed numbered when the Bengals granted him permission to seek a trade last offseason. However, Hendrickson signed a revised one-year contract in late August.

Injuries limited Hendrickson to seven games last season, and the Bengals finished 6-11 with the NFL's second-most yards and third-most points allowed. Tagging Hendrickson may have created another tumultuous summer of long-term extension talks.

Hendrickson instead seems ready for a new chapter. The 31-year-old wrote that he's "blessed" by the friendships he's formed with teammates that "will continue long after football."

The 2024 All-Pro thanked coaches for their "priceless" mentorship and staffers for "giving 100% with little to no recognition." Finally, Hendrickson thanked Bengals fans for "sharing the love, support, and memories."

"Thank you for supporting me in the relentless pursuit of winning," he wrote. "You've made the Jungle Roar when I hunted QB after QB! Memories of those moments will live in my heart and mind forever. The hard work this city puts in and its support for our Bengals made it easy to empty the tank for this fanbase! I could not be more proud of the high standards we have for our city and football team. Cincinnati is home. Now and forever."

This article first appeared on The Spun and was syndicated with permission.

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