Pass rusher Trey Hendrickson has bid farewell to Cincinnati Bengals fans with an emotional message. He used a meaningful track by the band Nickelback.

Trey Hendrickson is a free agent. This makes him one of the most valuable players on the current market.

The drama of recent years has come to an abrupt end. Despite his love for the city, the defensive end was at constant odds with the Cincinnati Bengals and did not receive a franchise tag.

The 31-year-old was a key member of the NFL team that reached the AFC Championship Game twice this decade. However, he was injured more often last season and only played in seven games. He recorded four sacks and eleven tackles. He said goodbye on Instagram, accompanied by music from the rock band Nickelback.

Cincinnati Bengals lose a face of the team

Hendrickson’s farewell message via social media to the organization, teammates, and fans read: “Thank you for the opportunity to play the game I love at the highest level. The past five years have been marked by great victories and tough losses, personal successes and humbling challenges.”

Hendrickson went on to write that he had “always been proud and always will be” to have worn the Bengals jersey and represented the team’s history. He emphasized how formative his time in Cincinnati had been for him. He particularly highlighted the support of the fans: “You made the ‘Jungle’ shake as I chased quarterback after quarterback. I will remember those moments forever.”

After not being tagged today, Trey Hendrickson bid goodbye to Cincinnati on IG: pic.twitter.com/xVXSwCHeTS

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 3, 2026

The dedication of the city and its fans made it easy for him to “give it his all on the field,” Hendrickson wrote. He concluded by saying, “Cincinnati is my home—now and forever.”

This brings to mind the Nickelback song “If Today Was Your Last Day.” It’s a motivational rock song that reminds us that every day is a gift and not a guaranteed right. We should cherish our friends and forgive our enemies.

Hendrickson: Bengals waive franchise tag

Hendrickson played a total of five seasons for Cincinnati. During that time, he developed into one of the most productive edge rushers in the league. He came from the New Orleans Saints in 2021 and signed a four-year, $60 million contract. He was then selected to the Pro Bowl four times in a row.

Between 2023 and 2024, he recorded 17.5 quarterback sacks in each season. In total, he collected 61 sacks during his time in Cincinnati.

The deadline for the franchise tag expired on Tuesday, making his departure a certainty. The former All-Pro pass rusher is now free to negotiate with other teams in free agency.

In recent years, there had been repeated contract disputes between the player and the franchise. Hendrickson had missed training at times before both sides agreed on a pay raise in 2025.

However, this was without signing a long-term contract extension.