The 2024 All-Pro 1st team selection joined The Pat McAfee Show at Radio Row to talk about his career thus far and where it might be headed.
Radio Row at the Super Bowl is an annual tradition that features thousands of NFL media members, personnel, and players alike to cover and report on the week leading up to the game itself.
Since becoming a prevalent figure in the media, former Colts punter Pat McAfee has taken his show to Radio Row, and this year is no different. Past and present NFL players are constantly shuffling in and out of McAfee’s in-house studio throughout the week, and day one of his appearance featured Bengals All-Pro defensive end Trey Hendrickson.
The NFL’s sack leader in 2024, Hendrickson is set to play out the final deal of his contract in Cincinnati. However, a disconnect between the Bengals’ players and their Director of Player Personnel and de facto General Manager, Duke Tobin, has muddied the water for Hendrickson and a few of his well-regarded teammates in wide receivers Ja’marr Chase and Tee Higgins.
Although Hendrickson touches on this situation within the Bengals organization during his interview with McAfee, he spent the majority of his time speaking about his career thus far, including a couple of shoutouts to his former defensive mentors in Lou Anarumo and Charlie Partridge, both of whom are now coaching one state over for the Indianapolis Colts defense.
Bengals DE Trey Hendrickson talks about #Colts DC Lou Anarumo on @PatMcAfeeShow:
“He does a good job of making it an open room meaning you can talk to him about scheme.”
“He’s a leader of elite men. I love him and he’s a great friend to me. He’s been a tremendous mentor.” pic.twitter.com/YaEskQZ0az
— Noah Compton (@nerlens_) February 5, 2025
Trey Hendrickson’s tenure as a Cincinnati Bengal (2021-) has been led by defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo. Since landing in Cincinnati, only Cleveland’s Myles Garrett (60.0 sacks) and Pittsburgh’s TJ Watt (58.5 sacks) have totaled more sacks than Hendrickson (57.0 sacks).
Hendrickson accredited his production in Cincinnati to Anarumo’s scheme, saying, “I was blessed to be productive under his scheme. I think he does a good job of making it a very open room, meaning you can talk to him about scheme. [As in] this doesn’t necessarily fit to what we think we’re going to do to attack them. Very organic. He’s a leader of elite men. He got guys at 4-8 to rally behind a cause and continue to win football games.”
In four seasons under Anarumo, Hendrickson logged no fewer than eight sacks in a single season, with season sack totals of:
2021: 14.0 sacks
2022: 8.0 sacks
2023: 17.5 sacks
2024: 17.5 sacks (led NFL)
Furthermore, Hendrickson took the time to shout out some former coaches of his that’ve ultimately shaped him into the NFL player that he is today. Most notably, he brought up current Colts defensive line coach Charlie Partridge, who was Hendrickson’s college head coach while at Florida Atlantic (2014-2016).
Bengals DE Trey Hendrickson also gave a shout out to his former HC and current #Colts DL Coach Charlie Partridge on @PatMcAfeeShow:
“I’ve been blessed to have a lot of great coaches in my life like Charlie Partridge who was my HC at FAU. Fantastic coach. He’s a good dude.” https://t.co/rZpOG26OUh pic.twitter.com/JH89rpW76c
— Noah Compton (@nerlens_) February 5, 2025
Partridge is set to coach his second season with the Indianapolis Colts in 2025, and with Hendrickson’s future in Cincinnati on the ropes, could a potential reunion be on the horizon?
Communication between the players and the front office in Cincinnati has certainly been at the forefront of issues for a number of stars during the latter half of this season. Hendrickson expressed on The Pat McAfee Show that he’d prefer to sign an extension to remain a Bengal, though he has no problem being traded if that means the situation in question is settled sooner rather than later.
If the Colts were to make the call, a worthwhile discussion would likely begin with a Day 2 draft pick and a contract extension to pair with it. Indianapolis could offer a package of DE Kwity Paye, who, like Hendrickson, has one year remaining on his current contract, and their 2025 2nd Round Pick. How Cincinnati would respond remains to be seen, though Hendrickson’s goal of being ‘paid what he’s worth’ suggests that any team acquiring him via trade would have to pony up a worthwhile extension to keep him around for the long haul.
Trey Hendrickson wants to avoid a contract dispute lingering into OTAs and training camp so that he can focus on offseason preparation in the meantime, as well as get what he deserves salary-wise. Not to mention, he made it known that he doesn’t want to be forced to play out his current deal either. His willingness to get a deal done as soon as possible remains priority number one, therefore, any NFL team entertaining a trade for Hendrickson ultimately falls flat unless they’re prepared to back up the Brink’s trucks alongside it.
