Kerry Hyder Jr. (born May 2, 1991)
is an American professional
football
Football is a family of team sports that involve, to varying degrees, kick (football), kicking a football (ball), ball to score a goal (sports), goal. Unqualified, football (word), the word ''football'' generally means the form of football t ...
defensive end
Defensive end (DE) is a defensive position in the sport of gridiron football.
This position has designated the players at each end of the defensive line, but changes in formation (American football), formations over the years have substantially ...
. He played
college football
College football is gridiron football that is played by teams of amateur Student athlete, student-athletes at universities and colleges. It was through collegiate competition that gridiron football American football in the United States, firs ...
for
Texas Tech
Texas Tech University (Texas Tech, Tech, or TTU) is a public research university in Lubbock, Texas, United States. Established on February 10, 1923, and called Texas Technological College until 1969, it is the flagship institution of the five- ...
.
Early life
Hyder played linebacker and defensive end for Lyndon B. Johnson High School in Austin, Texas. Hyder was ranked as a 3-star prospect by
Rivals.com and held offers from Cincinnati, Iowa State, Minnesota, New Mexico, Texas Tech, Toledo, and Utah.
College career
Hyder accepted a scholarship offer to play for
Texas Tech
Texas Tech University (Texas Tech, Tech, or TTU) is a public research university in Lubbock, Texas, United States. Established on February 10, 1923, and called Texas Technological College until 1969, it is the flagship institution of the five- ...
in 2009 and redshirted his freshman season. In his redshirt freshman season in 2010, Hyder played in 11 games, and logged 13 tackles and 3.5 tackles for loss.
In 2011, Hyder started all 12 games for the Red Raiders and logged 42 tackles, 5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, and one forced fumble.
The 2012 season proved to be Hyder's breakout year with four organizations naming him to preseason All-Big 12 Conference lists. Hyder concluded the season with
All-Big 12 Conference honors from
Phil Steele
Phil Steele (c. 1960) is an American sportswriter and analyst who focuses exclusively on college and professional football. He is considered a "highly respected prognosticator" within the sports media. His company, Phil Steele Publications, pro ...
, the ''
Austin-American Statesman
The ''Austin American-Statesman'' is the major daily newspaper for Austin, the capital city of the U.S. state of Texas. It is owned by Hearst Communications. The distribution of the following ''The New York Times'', ''The Washington Post'', ''As ...
'', the ''
Associated Press
The Associated Press (AP) is an American not-for-profit organization, not-for-profit news agency headquartered in New York City.
Founded in 1846, it operates as a cooperative, unincorporated association, and produces news reports that are dist ...
'', and
CBS Sports
CBS Sports is the American sports programming division of Paramount Global that is responsible for sports broadcasts carried by its broadcast network CBS and streaming service Paramount+, as well as the operator of its cable channel CBS Sports N ...
, among others.
Hyder's senior season in 2013 began with pre-season All-Big 12 Conference listings by several organizations, as well as listings on the
Lombardi Award
The Rotary Lombardi Award is an award for college football in the United States. Awarded by the Rotary Club of Houston, Texas annually to the college football player "who best embodies the values and spirit of NFL's legendary coach Vince Lombard ...
,
Bronko Nagurski Award and
Outland Trophy
The Outland Trophy is awarded to the best college football
College football is gridiron football that is played by teams of amateur Student athlete, student-athletes at universities and colleges. It was through collegiate competition that g ...
watchlists.
Hyder's senior season concluded with several All-Big 12 conference selections.
Hyder logged 65 tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, 2 blocked kicks, one pass defensed and one fumble recovery.
He finished his college career with 49 games (41 starts), 176 tackles, 11 sacks, 10 passes defensed, 3 forced fumbles and 2 fumble recoveries.
Professional career
New York Jets
On May 11, 2014, the
New York Jets
The New York Jets are a professional American football team based in the New York metropolitan area. The Jets compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC East, East division. The team p ...
signed Hyder to a three-year, $1.53 million contract as an
undrafted free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player or manager who is eligible to sign with other clubs or franchises; i.e., not under contract to any specific team. The term is also used in reference to a player who is under a contract at present ...
defensive tackle
A defensive tackle (DT) is a position in American football that typically lines up on the line of scrimmage, opposite one of the Guard (American football), offensive guards; however, he may also line up opposite one of the offensive Tackle (gridir ...
after he was not selected during the
2014 NFL draft
The 2014 NFL draft was the 79th annual meeting of National Football League (NFL) franchises to select newly eligible football players to the league. The draft, officially the "Player Selection Meeting", was held at Radio City Music Hall in New Y ...
. His contract included a
signing bonus
A signing bonus or sign-on bonus is a sum of money paid to a new employee (including a professional sports person) by a company as an incentive to join that company. They are often given as a way of making a compensation package more attractive ...
of $4,000.
He was released on August 30, 2014 and signed to the team's practice squad a day later.
Detroit Lions
Hyder was signed to a reserve/future contract by the
Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit. The Lions compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC North, North division. The team plays their home game ...
on January 6, 2015. Hyder did not make the final 53 man roster out of training camp but was resigned to the practice squad after clearing waivers. He appeared in one game and did not record any stats.
In the offseason before the 2016 season, Hyder shed 35 pounds and transitioned to
defensive end
Defensive end (DE) is a defensive position in the sport of gridiron football.
This position has designated the players at each end of the defensive line, but changes in formation (American football), formations over the years have substantially ...
. He was promoted to the active roster on January 2, 2016. After recording three sacks in the Lions final preseason game in 2016, he made the Lions 53-man roster. In the first game of the regular season, Hyder recorded two sacks on
Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. The Colts compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC South, South division. Since the 2008 India ...
quarterback
Andrew Luck
Andrew Austen Luck (born September 12, 1989) is an American football executive and former professional quarterback who is the general manager of the Stanford Cardinal. He previously played in the National Football League (NFL) for seven seasons ...
as the Lions won 39-35. He recorded 1.5 sacks in the Week 2 game against the
Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans are a professional American football team based in Nashville, Tennessee. The Titans compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC South, South division. They play the ...
. After an ankle injury to all-pro defensive end
Ezekiel Ansah
Ezekiel Nana "Ziggy" Ansah (born May 29, 1989) is a Ghanaian former professional American football defensive end. Born in Accra, Ghana, he moved to the United States to attend Brigham Young University, where he played college football for the B ...
, Hyder made his first career NFL start on September 25, against the
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are a professional American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The Packers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC North, North division. They ar ...
in Week 3, recording another sack. He was nominated as the pre-game Gruden Grinder before a Monday night tilt with the
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football team based in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex. The Cowboys compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC East, East division. T ...
by broadcaster
Jon Gruden
Jon David Gruden (born August 17, 1963) is an American football coach and media personality currently employed by Barstool Sports. After beginning his coaching career in the college ranks and working as a position coach and as an offensive co ...
on December 26, 2016. Hyder finished his breakout season by leading the Lions in both sacks (8) and tackles for loss (11). He also had 36 tackles, one pass defensed and one fumble recovery. He also was named the 2016 Detroit Lions Media-Friendly "Good Guy Award" winner by members of the Pro Football Writers Association and Detroit Sports Media Association.
In the Lions first 2017 preseason game against the
Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. The Colts compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC South, South division. Since the 2008 India ...
, Hyder suffered a season-ending torn Achilles injury. He was placed on injured reserve on August 15, 2017.
On March 10, 2018, the Lions re-signed Hyder to a one-year contract extension. He appeared in 8 games as a backup, collecting 6 tackles (one for loss) and one sack.
Dallas Cowboys
On March 18, 2019, the Cowboys signed Hyder to a one-year, $1 million contract that included $300,000 guaranteed and a signing bonus of $100,000.
In week 7 against the
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia. The Eagles compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC East, East division. The team plays its ...
, Hyder recovered a fumble lost by
Carson Wentz
Carson James Wentz (born December 30, 1992) is an American professional football quarterback. He played college football for the North Dakota State Bison, where he won two consecutive NCAA FCS national championships as the starter. Wentz was s ...
in the 37–10 win. He was a backup, appearing in all 16 games, while posting 19 tackles (2 for loss), one sack, 19 quarterback pressures and one fumble recovery.
San Francisco 49ers (first stint)
On March 25, 2020, the
San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers (also written as the San Francisco Forty-Niners and nicknamed the Niners) are a professional American football team based in the San Francisco Bay Area. The 49ers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member ...
signed Hyder to a one-year, $1.50 million contract that included $550,000 guaranteed.
The season-ending injuries to
Nick Bosa
Nicholas John Bosa (born October 23, 1997) is an American professional American football, football defensive end for the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Ohio State Buckeyes football, O ...
and
Dee Ford
Donald “Dee” Ford (born March 19, 1991) is an American former professional American football, football player who was a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Auburn Tigers football, Auburn Tig ...
, allowed Hyder to earn a starting role at right defensive end. In Week 12 against the
Los Angeles Rams
The Los Angeles Rams are a professional American football team based in the Greater Los Angeles, Greater Los Angeles area. The Rams compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC West, West ...
, Hyder recorded two sacks and recovered a fumble lost by
Jared Goff
Jared Thomas Goff (born October 14, 1994) is an American professional football quarterback for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the California Golden Bears, setting Pac-12 Conference single- ...
during the 23–20 win. He appeared in 16 games with 14 starts, posting career-highs with 49 tackles (10 for loss), 8.5 sacks and one fumble recovery.
Seattle Seahawks
On March 25, 2021, the
Seattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle. The Seahawks compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC West, West division. The club entered the NFL a ...
signed Hyder to a two-year, $6.80 million contract, that includes $3.65 million guaranteed and a
signing bonus
A signing bonus or sign-on bonus is a sum of money paid to a new employee (including a professional sports person) by a company as an incentive to join that company. They are often given as a way of making a compensation package more attractive ...
of $2.55 million.
He appeared in 15 games with 7 starts at left defensive end, registering 33 tackles (3 for loss), 1.5 sacks and 2 fumble recoveries. He was released on March 18, 2022.
San Francisco 49ers (second stint)
On March 24, 2022, Hyder signed a one-year contract with the 49ers. He appeared in 16 games with one start, posting 19 tackles (one for loss), 3 passes defensed and one fumble recovery.
On April 17, 2023, Hyder re-signed with the 49ers on a one-year contract. He was released on October 6. He appeared in 4 games, making one tackle (one for loss).
Houston Texans
On October 10, 2023, Hyder was signed to the
Houston Texans
The Houston Texans are a professional American football team based in Houston. The Texans compete in the National Football League as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC South, South division. The team plays its home games at N ...
' practice squad. He was promoted to the active roster on November 23. He was released on December 5 and re-signed to the practice squad two days later. He appeared in 2 games, collecting 2 tackles (one for loss). He was not signed to a reserve/future contract after the season and thus became a free agent when his practice squad contract expired.
References
External links
Texas Tech Red Raiders bio
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hyder, Kerry
Living people
1991 births
American football defensive ends
Players of American football from Austin, Texas
Texas Tech Red Raiders football players
Detroit Lions players
New York Jets players
Dallas Cowboys players
San Francisco 49ers players
Seattle Seahawks players
21st-century African-American sportsmen
Houston Texans players
21st-century American sportsmen