Austin Hooper: Teams, Career, College, Age, Contract and Number

Austin Hooper has built a long NFL career as a reliable tight end, beginning with the Atlanta Falcons in 2016 and later playing for several teams before returning to Atlanta in 2026. The Stanford product was a third-round pick and has remained in the league for more than a decade.

As of the 2026 NFL season, Hooper is back with the Falcons and wears No. 81. NFL.com lists him as a 31-year-old tight end with Stanford as his college.

Austin Hooper Quick Facts

NFL.com lists Hooper at 6-foot-4 and 254 pounds, while Over The Cap identifies him as a 2016 third-round selection, 81st overall, by Atlanta.

Austin Hooper Teams

Hooper has played for five NFL franchises during his career, with Atlanta serving as both his starting point and his current destination.

His NFL teams have been:

• Atlanta Falcons: 2016-2019 and 2026-present
• Cleveland Browns: 2020-2021
• Tennessee Titans: 2022
• Las Vegas Raiders: 2023
• New England Patriots: 2024-2025
• Atlanta Falcons: returned in 2026

His career path has given him experience in multiple offensive systems. NFL career statistics show that he played 157 regular-season games through the latest available 2026 statistics, recording 432 receptions for 4,461 yards and 30 touchdowns.

Austin Hooper Career

Hooper entered the NFL after three seasons at Stanford. Atlanta selected him with the 81st overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft.

His rookie season showed promise. In 14 games, he caught 19 passes for 271 yards and three touchdowns. He then became a bigger part of the Falcons’ passing game during the next three seasons.

The best statistical season of his career came in 2019. Hooper played 13 games and produced:

• 75 receptions
• 787 receiving yards
• 6 touchdowns

That season established him as one of the Falcons’ most productive receiving options at tight end.

Hooper finished his first Atlanta stint with four seasons of regular-season production before moving to Cleveland.

Austin Hooper with the Falcons

The Falcons drafted Hooper in 2016, making Atlanta the organization most closely associated with the beginning of his NFL career.

From 2016 through 2019, he appeared in 59 games for Atlanta and became an important receiving tight end. His production increased steadily, culminating in his 2019 campaign.

After several seasons elsewhere, Hooper returned to Atlanta in 2026.

NFL’s 2026 free-agency tracker reported that the Falcons signed Hooper to a one-year, $3.25 million deal.

Stanford’s 2026 NFL season preview also lists Hooper with Atlanta on a one-year, $3.25 million contract.

Austin Hooper Contract

Hooper’s current contract is a one-year deal worth $3.25 million with the Atlanta Falcons.

Over The Cap lists the contract with a $3.22 million 2026 salary-cap charge and $3.25 million in cash payout. The site also lists $2.74 million in fully guaranteed money.

The contract represents Hooper’s return to the organization that drafted him a decade earlier.

According to Over The Cap, his current deal is scheduled to make him an unrestricted free agent after the 2026 season.

Austin Hooper College

Hooper played college football at Stanford University.

He joined the Stanford program as a highly regarded recruit and eventually developed into an NFL prospect. The Stanford athletics profile lists him as a 6-foot-4 tight end from San Ramon, California, who majored in psychology.

Hooper did not play during his freshman season in 2013. He became a significant contributor as a sophomore in 2014.

That season, he played 13 games and started 10, finishing with:

• 40 receptions
• 499 receiving yards
• 2 touchdowns

He followed that performance with another strong junior season in 2015. Hooper played 14 games and recorded 34 catches for 438 yards and six touchdowns.

His 2015 season included first-team All-Pac-12 recognition and helped put him firmly on the NFL draft radar. Stanford notes that he was also a finalist for the John Mackey Award.

Austin Hooper NFL Draft

The Atlanta Falcons selected Hooper in the third round of the 2016 NFL Draft with the 81st overall pick.

Interestingly, No. 81 became connected to Hooper in two ways: it was his overall draft position, and he currently wears No. 81 for Atlanta.

Stanford’s official profile confirms that he was selected 81st overall by the Falcons after his junior season.

Austin Hooper Age

Austin Hooper is 31 years old as of September 2026.

NFL.com currently lists his age as 31.

His longevity is notable because he entered the NFL in 2016 and has continued playing into the 2026 season.

Austin Hooper Number

Austin Hooper currently wears No. 81 for the Atlanta Falcons.

The NFL’s player profile identifies him as TE No. 81.

The number has an interesting connection to his career because Atlanta originally selected him 81st overall in the 2016 draft.

Austin Hooper Career Stats

Hooper’s career numbers show consistent production as a receiving tight end.

Through the latest NFL statistics, his regular-season totals are:

His career-best receiving season came in 2019, when he recorded 75 receptions for 787 yards and six touchdowns with Atlanta.

He also produced more than 400 receiving yards in multiple seasons, including 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022 and 2024.

Austin Hooper with the Browns

After four seasons with Atlanta, Hooper joined the Cleveland Browns in 2020.

He had a productive first season in Cleveland, appearing in 13 games and catching 46 passes for 435 yards and four touchdowns.

In 2021, he played all 16 games and finished with 38 receptions for 345 yards and three touchdowns.

The Browns period added another two seasons to his NFL career before he moved on to Tennessee.

Austin Hooper with the Titans

Hooper joined the Tennessee Titans in 2022.

He played all 17 games that season and recorded 41 receptions for 444 yards and two touchdowns.

His 2022 campaign demonstrated that he could still contribute consistently as a veteran tight end.

Austin Hooper with the Raiders

In 2023, Hooper played for the Las Vegas Raiders.

He appeared in all 17 games and caught 25 passes for 234 yards.

Although his receiving totals were lower than during his peak seasons, he remained a regular part of an NFL roster.

Austin Hooper with the Patriots

Hooper then joined the New England Patriots.

His first season in New England, 2024, produced 45 receptions for 476 yards and three touchdowns across 17 games. He followed that with 21 receptions for 263 yards and two touchdowns in 2025.

That two-year run gave Hooper another opportunity to provide veteran experience at tight end.

Austin Hooper Return to Atlanta

The 2026 season brought Hooper back to the Falcons.

Atlanta’s decision to sign him reunited the veteran tight end with the franchise that originally drafted him. NFL’s 2026 free-agency tracker lists his deal as a one-year, $3.25 million contract.

His return also adds another chapter to a career that has already included more than 150 regular-season games.

Austin Hooper 2026 Stats

According to the latest NFL career-statistics page, Hooper had appeared in two games in the 2026 season, with two receptions for 20 yards and a 13-yard long reception at the time of the latest update.

Because the 2026 season is ongoing, his statistics can change throughout the year.

Austin Hooper High School Career

Before Stanford, Hooper attended De La Salle High School in California.

Stanford’s official biography says he helped De La Salle win three consecutive CIF Open Division state championships from 2010 through 2012. He was also a highly rated national recruit and served as a team captain during his senior year.

He played both football and track and field in high school, showing athletic ability before eventually concentrating on football at Stanford.

Austin Hooper Career Overview

Austin Hooper’s NFL journey has been defined by consistency and longevity. He entered the league as a third-round selection in 2016, developed into a productive receiving tight end with Atlanta, and subsequently played for Cleveland, Tennessee, Las Vegas and New England.

His return to Atlanta in 2026 gives him the opportunity to finish another season with the team that started his professional career.

With No. 81, a Stanford background, and more than 4,400 career receiving yards, Hooper remains a recognizable veteran tight end in the NFL.

FAQs

How old is Austin Hooper?

Austin Hooper is 31 years old as of September 2026, according to NFL.com.

What college did Austin Hooper attend?

Austin Hooper attended Stanford University, where he played tight end from 2013 through 2015.

What teams has Austin Hooper played for?

Hooper has played for the Atlanta Falcons, Cleveland Browns, Tennessee Titans, Las Vegas Raiders and New England Patriots. He returned to Atlanta in 2026.

What is Austin Hooper’s current contract?

Hooper signed a one-year, $3.25 million contract with the Atlanta Falcons for 2026.

What number does Austin Hooper wear?

Austin Hooper wears No. 81 for the Atlanta Falcons.

Where was Austin Hooper drafted?

The Falcons selected Hooper in the third round of the 2016 NFL Draft with the 81st overall pick.

What are Austin Hooper’s career stats?

Through the latest NFL statistics, Hooper has 432 receptions for 4,461 yards and 30 touchdowns in 157 regular-season games.

What was Austin Hooper’s best NFL season?

His strongest statistical receiving season was 2019, when he caught 75 passes for 787 yards and six touchdowns with the Falcons.