The Wycoff native recently spent five games in New Orleans after working with the New York Jets last year.
New Jersey native and NFL wide receiver Chris Hogan is set to re-retire from football after 10 NFL seasons, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. Hogan’s departure coincides with his 34th birthday. He was a member of the New Orleans Saints at the time of his retirement and played five games with the New York Jets last season.
New Jersey football defined the early stages of his NFL career: born and raised in Wycoff, Hogan excelled in both football and lacrosse. He went on to play the latter at Penn State but used a leftover year of eligibility to play football at Monmouth University. Hogan became a man of many talents in Long Branch, serving as a quarterback, receiver, cornerback, and special teams contributor during the 2010 season.
Hogan entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent for San Francisco in 2011. He would spend 11 days on the local New York Giants’ practice squad later that year. The receiver would make his NFL debut as a member of the Buffalo Bills during the late stages of the following year and spent the next three in Orchard Park, tallying 959 yards and six touchdowns.
It’s likely that Hogan will be best remembered for his three-year stint (2016-18) with the New England Patriots, where he contributed to two Super Bowl causes. He earned 1,651 and 12 touchdowns over 40 regular season games. An average reception of 17.9 yards tied with DeSean Jackson to lead all qualified NFL receivers in 2016. Hogan came up big during the ensuing playoff run, earning 275 yards in AFC playoff wins over Houston and Pittsburgh. His 180 yards earned the conference title game set a Patriots franchise record.
Hogan originally left football in February, embarking on a professional lacrosse career through the Premier Lacrosse League. He returned to the NFL in July through a one-year deal with the Saints, with whom he’d earn 41 yards on four receptions, including a 10-year touchdown grab in New Orleans’ opening weekend win over Green Bay.
Other Ramapo High School alumni to play in the NFL include linebacker Blake Costanzo and quarterback Chris Simms.
Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffJMags