T.J. Hockenson (born July 3, 1997) is a professional football tight end who currently plays for the Minnesota Vikings, but he made history at the University of Iowa, where he won the John Mackey Award in 2018 as the top college tight end. That stellar college season—featuring 46 receptions, 717 yards, and six touchdowns—propelled him to become the eighth overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft by the Detroit Lions, earning him a four-year, $19.8 million contract. His professional debut was record-breaking: he notched 131 receiving yards against the Cardinals, the most ever by a tight end in a debut, though a concussion later ended his rookie season. In 2020, he briefly faced a COVID-19 protocol stint before returning to action, solidifying his role as a reliable target. He eventually transitioned to the Vikings, continuing his career as one of the NFL's talented pass-catching tight ends.