Wyckoff Native Chris Hogan Signed With Carolina Panthers

WYCKOFF, NJ — Chris Hogan, a Wyckoff native, has signed with the Carolina Panthers.

Hogan was signed to a one-year deal, NFL.com reported. It was the first time the 31-year-old was an unrestricted NFL free agent. Hogan is a two-time Super Bowl winner with the New England Patriots.

Hogan's story is one of perseverance.

"I’ve always been a guy with a chip on his shoulder," Hogan told Panthers.com. "I was undrafted and played only a year of (college) football, so I’ve carried that with me throughout my career. My time in New England was great, but this is a new opportunity to prove myself again as a player. I’m really excited about that."

See related: Wyckoff's Chris Hogan Wins 2nd Super Bowl With Patriots

Hogan is a Ramapo High School alumnus who played three years of lacrosse at Penn State University. He graduated in 2010 and immediately enrolled at Mommouth University, playing one year of football there.

He was cut four times by NFL teams before the Buffalo Bills picked him up in 2012.

"Getting cut four separate times really never stopped me," Hogan told Newsday.com.

Hogan was signed by the Patriots as a restricted free agent from the Buffalo Bills in March 2016 and has contributed on the field ever since.

Hogan will join another North Jersey football standout in quarterback Cam Newton's huddle. Tight end Greg Olsen played for Wayne Hills High School, a longtime rival of Ramapo's.

"He was a stud player in high school," Olsen told Panthers.com. "Remember him playing against my dad's teams. Every year it seemed one of our two schools were state champ."

Email: daniel.hubbard@patch.com