A product of Florida Atlantic, Trey Hendrickson spent his first four NFL seasons building a foundation with the New Orleans Saints before signing with the Cincinnati Bengals in 2021. It was in the jungle that he transformed into a game-wrecking edge rusher, becoming a premier force for Cincinnati's defense.

Hendrickson relied on explosive initial get-off, exceptional dip-and-rip ankle flexion, and relentless closing speed. Operating as the right defensive end, his defining trait was converting speed to power on the edge, relentlessly harassing opposing quarterbacks and collapsing the pocket.

Hendrickson’s impact was immediate and explosive upon arriving in 2021. Silencing critics who doubted his contract, he set a then-career high with 14.0 sacks, 27 quarterback hits, and three forced fumbles in his debut season. He established a franchise record by recording at least half a sack in 11 consecutive games, earned his first Pro Bowl selection, and led a revitalized defense to Super Bowl LVI, where he added another 3.5 sacks during Cincinnati's postseason run.

In 2022, despite battling a wrist injury that put him in a protective cast, Hendrickson remained a constant threat. He tallied 8.0 sacks, 26 quarterback hits, and three forced fumbles in 15 starts, earning his second straight Pro Bowl nod as Cincinnati captured its second consecutive AFC North title and advanced to the AFC Championship Game.

Hendrickson reached a new level of dominance in 2023, recording 17.5 sacks (tying the Bengals' single-season franchise record), 16 tackles for loss, and 43 quarterback hits. His high-volume disruption earned him a third consecutive Pro Bowl selection and solidified his standing as one of the NFL's premier game-wreckers.

His peak came in 2024, when he delivered a historic pass-rushing masterclass. Hendrickson captured the NFL sack title with a league-leading 17.5 sacks and added 19 tackles for loss, 36 quarterback hits, and two forced fumbles. Highlighted by a dominant 4.0-sack performance against the Raiders in Week 9, Hendrickson earned First-Team All-Pro honors and his fourth straight Pro Bowl selection, and finished second in the AP Defensive Player of the Year voting.

Following a public offseason contract saga, Hendrickson agreed to a restructured one-year deal to play out the 2025 season in Cincinnati. However, injuries derailed his fifth year in Queen City, limiting him to just seven games and 4.0 sacks.

With the team opting not to apply the franchise tag in early 2026, the long-standing contract impasse reached its final chapter, and Hendrickson departed in free agency to sign with the division-rival Baltimore Ravens. He generated 61.0 sacks, 55 tackles for loss, 132 quarterback hits, and nine forced fumbles in Cincinnati.