{{Short description|American football player (born 1998)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=July 2020}} {{Infobox NFL biography | name = Hunter Bryant | image = | caption = | current_team = | number = 86 | position = Tight end | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1998|8|20}} | birth_place = Issaquah, Washington, U.S. | death_date = | death_place = | height_ft = 6 | height_in = 2 | weight_lb = 245 | high_school = Eastside Catholic <br />(Sammamish, Washington) | college = Washington | undraftedyear = 2020 | pastteams = * Detroit Lions ({{NFL Year|2020}}–{{NFL Year|2021}}) | status = | highlights = *First team All-Pac-12 (2019) | statseason = | statweek = | statlabel1 = Receptions | statvalue1 = 1 | statlabel2 = Receiving yards | statvalue2 = 44 | statlabel3 = Receiving touchdowns | statvalue3 = | pfr = BryaHu02 }} '''Hunter Bryant''' (born August 20, 1998) is an American former professional football player who was a tight end for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Washington Huskies.
==Early years== Bryant attended Eastside Catholic School in Sammamish, Washington.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Reynolds |first=Bill |date=September 9, 2020 |title=Hunter Bryant makes Detroit Lions |url=https://www.laconnerweeklynews.com/story/2020/09/09/community/hunter-bryant-makes-detroit-lions/5703.html |access-date=2025-06-24 |website=La Conner Weekly News |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Russillo |first=Jack |date=2016-01-25 |title=Eastside Catholic junior Hunter Bryant picked for Scout.com underclassmen All-American team |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/high-school/eastside-catholic-junior-hunter-bryant-picked-for-scout-com-underclassmen-all-american-team/ |access-date=2025-06-24 |website=The Seattle Times |language=en-US}}</ref> During his high school career he caught 138 passes for 2,483 yards and 35 touchdowns. He committed to the University of Washington to play college football.<ref>{{cite news|last=Caple|first=Christian|date=April 23, 2016|url=https://www.theolympian.com/sports/college/pac-12/university-of-washington/huskies-insider-blog/article73521542.html|title=Eastside Catholic tight end Hunter Bryant announces commitment to play football for Huskies|work=The Olympian}}</ref>
==College career== As a true freshman at Washington, Bryant played in nine games with five starts. He finished the season with 22 receptions for 331 yards and a touchdown. As a sophomore in 2018, he played in only five games because of injury.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Terrill |first=Mark J. |title=Even in Rose Bowl loss, Husky tight end Hunter Bryant proves he's a difference-maker |url=https://www.thenewstribune.com/sports/college/university-of-washington/article223804965.html |website=thenewstribune}}</ref> He recorded 11 receptions for 238 yards and one touchdown.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Finally healthy, Hunter Bryant looks to make big impact for Huskies | SWX Right Now - Sports for Spokane, CdA, Tri-Cities, WA |url=https://www.swxrightnow.com/stories/2019/apr/16/finally-healthy-hunter-bryant-looks-to-make-big-im/ |website=www.swxrightnow.com |access-date=November 9, 2019 |archive-date=November 9, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191109225942/https://www.swxrightnow.com/stories/2019/apr/16/finally-healthy-hunter-bryant-looks-to-make-big-im/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=August 21, 2019 |title=Is Hunter Bryant a complete tight end? The UW junior will let the film speak for itself |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/uw-husky-football/is-hunter-bryant-a-complete-tight-end-the-uw-junior-will-let-the-film-speak-for-itself/ |website=The Seattle Times}}</ref> Bryant returned from the injury in 2019.<ref>{{Cite web |date=November 5, 2019 |title=Hunter Bryant is having a breakout season for the Huskies. But could he soon bolt to the NFL draft? |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/uw-husky-football/uws-hunter-bryant-is-exceeding-expectations-in-his-junior-season-but-could-he-soon-bolt-to-the-nfl-draft/ |website=The Seattle Times}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Hunter Bryant is Back to Lead The Pac |url=https://www.si.com/college/washington/football/hunter-bryant-after-hawaii |website=Maven|date=September 15, 2019 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Jennings |first=Chantel |title=Hunter Bryant focuses on the big picture, and that could... |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/872786/2019/03/18/hunter-bryant-washington-tight-end-injuries-nfl-future-family/ }}</ref> Following the 2019 where he was named to the first-team All-Pac-12, Bryant announced that he would forgo his senior season and declared for the 2020 NFL draft.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Raley, Dan |date=December 7, 2019 |title=Pros Beckon: Hunter Bryant Declares Early for NFL Draft |url=https://www.si.com/college/washington/football/hunter-bryant-declares-early-for-nfl-draft |access-date=January 10, 2020 |magazine=Sports Illustrated}}</ref>
==Professional career== After going undrafted in the 2020 NFL draft, Bryant was signed by the Detroit Lions.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Meinke |first=Kyle |date=April 25, 2020 |title=UDFA tracker: Lions land promising Washington TE Hunter Bryant |work=MLive |url=https://www.mlive.com/lions/2020/04/udfa-tracker-lions-land-promising-washington-te-hunter-bryant.html |access-date=April 26, 2020}}</ref> Despite a hamstring injury limiting him in training camp, Bryant made the Lions 53-man roster. After recovering from the injury, he then suffered a concussion in practice and was placed on injured reserve on October 16, 2020.<ref>{{cite web|title=Detroit Lions place TE Hunter Bryant on IR|url=https://www.prideofdetroit.com/2020/10/16/21519916/detroit-lions-place-te-hunter-bryant-on-ir|website=Pride of Detroit|publisher=SB Nation|date=October 16, 2020}}</ref> Bryant was activated on December 2.<ref>{{cite web|title=Lions announce roster moves|url=https://www.detroitlions.com/news/lions-announce-roster-moves-trufant-shelton-bryant|website=DetroitLions.com|date=December 2, 2020}}</ref>
Bryant was waived by the Lions on April 28, 2021, with a failed physical designation,<ref>{{cite web|title=Lions waive Hunter Bryant|url=https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2021/04/28/lions-waive-hunter-bryant/|author=Alper, Josh|work=Pro Football Talk|publisher=NBC Sports|date=April 28, 2021}}</ref> and reverted to the team's non-football injury list the next day.<ref>{{cite news |author=Williams, Charean |title=Hunter Bryant reverts to Lions' non-football injury list |url=https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2021/04/29/hunter-bryant-reverts-to-lions-non-football-injury-list/ |website=NBCSports.com |date=April 29, 2021 |access-date=April 30, 2021}}</ref>
Bryant was waived by the Lions on April 27, 2022.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Alper |first1=Josh |title=Lions waive Hunter Bryant, Curtis Bolton |url=https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/04/27/lions-waive-hunter-bryant-curtis-bolton/ |website=ProFootballTalk |access-date=28 April 2022 |date=27 April 2022}}</ref> Shortly thereafter, Bryant retired from professional football.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Hunter Bryant Returns to the Huskies In Spiritual Role|url=https://www.si.com/college/washington/husky-legends/hunter-bryant-returns-to-the-huskies-in-spiritual-role-01k1sbb29jhf|access-date=January 23, 2026|website=si.com|language=en}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *[https://gohuskies.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=9473 Washington Huskies bio]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bryant, Hunter}} Category:1998 births Category:Living people Category:Sportspeople from Issaquah, Washington Category:Players of American football from King County, Washington Category:American football tight ends Category:Washington Huskies football players Category:Detroit Lions players