Hunter Renfrow sat out the entire 2024 NFL season while battling ulcerative colitis.
New Panthers wide receiver Hunter Renfrow stepped away from the game prior to the 2024 season at the early age of 28. At the time, we were only given so much information regarding the reasons behind his retirement. But now, following his signing in Carolina. Renfrow has let it be known that an auto-immune disease (ulcerative colitis) was the reason he needed to take some time away from the game.
“It kicked my butt pretty good,” Renfrow told the Carolina Panthers’ team website after signing with the club over the weekend. “Last year, I fluctuated in weight; I went down to 150 pounds. I had like seven straight days of 103-degree fevers. It’s tough to play when you’re not feeling great.”
Per Renfrow, he’s back up to 187 pounds which is right around where he expects to play this upcoming season.
“It’s just trying to get back, trying to get healthy, trying to do something I love,” Renfrow said. “I enjoyed other parts of life. We had our second daughter, so enjoying that and just wanting to make sure if I’m going to come back and give my time and attention to something that I was going to be all in on it.”
In his final season with the Raiders before stepping away, Renfrow posted 25 receptions for 255 yards and zero touchdowns as he struggled to find targets in an offense that heavily-featured All-Pro Davante Adams while struggling to behind a rookie quarterback in Aidan O’Connell. Renfrow’s best season came in 2021 when hauled 103 receptions for 1,038 yards and nine touchdowns. All of those numbers remain his career highs. In five seasons with Las Vegas, Renfrow totaled 269 catches, 2,884 receiving yards, and 17 touchdowns.
Renfrow will be part of a wide receiver room that features fellow veteran Adam Thielen, Xavier Legette, and 2025 first-round pick Tetairoa McMillan.