Chris Manhertz

Chris Manhertz is a tight end for the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League (NFL). He was signed by the Buffalo Bills as an undrafted free agent in 2015.

He was born in the Bronx, New York. He attended Canisius College, a Buffalo, New York-based Catholic school that had abolished its football program in 2003. He played for the men’s basketball team from 2010 to 2014 as a standout player and three-year captain.

Buffalo Bills

Despite never having played football, he began training to change sports to football. He was offered a tryout from the Buffalo Bills and was signed a future/reserve contract in May 2015, although coach Rex Ryan admitted his chances of making the roster were a longshot. He did not make the preseason roster.

New Orleans Saints

Manhertz joined the New Orleans Saints after being released by the Bills and spent the season on the Saints’ practice team, making the active roster to start the 2016 season and made his NFL debut on September 18, 2016.

Carolina Panthers

The Carolina Panthers signed him in October, where he played in 16 games with four starts in 2017, recording two catches for 17 yards. He suffered a high ankle sprain in Week 17 and was placed on injured reserve. In Week 15 of the 2018 season, he caught his first touchdown on a trick-play 50-yard pass from running back Christian McCaffrey.

On January 29, 2019, Manhertz signed a two-year contract extension with the Panthers.