Panthers' Hunter Renfrow Says Autoimmune Condition Led to Drop to 150 Pounds in 2024

Hunter Renfrow didn't play in the NFL last season after being diagnosed with ulcerative colitis, according to Darin Gantt of the Carolina Panthers' website, a condition that caused him to deal with "weight loss, fatigue, and high fevers."

"It kicked my butt pretty good," Renfrow said. "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."

He has spent the past year meeting with doctors and getting the condition under control, and now has his weight is back up to 187 pounds. The Panthers signed him to a one-year deal on Sunday as they continue to bolster the receivers room, also drafting Tetairoa McMillan and Jimmy Horn Jr. this offseason.

"It's just trying to get back, trying to get healthy, trying to do something I love," Renfrow told Gantt. "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."

The 29-year-old had his best season in the 2021 campaign for the Las Vegas Raiders, catching 103 passes for 1,038 yards and nine touchdowns, all career highs. He hasn't come close to replicating that level of production in any other season and had just 25 receptions for 255 yards and no scores across 17 games in 2023.

More than likely, Renfrow will be fighting to carve out some sort of a role in 2025 with the Panthers, with Xavier Legette, Adam Thielen and McMillan expected to lead the passing attack and Jalen Coker a safe bet to see snaps as well.

For now, however, Renfrow is just happy to be back playing football.

"One of the reasons why I wanted to come back, my thought process was, I want to really enjoy the time with the receivers and time with the team and time with my teammates and just be the best teammate I can," he told Gantt. "I want to be real intentional about that and try to lock in and get in with the guys and have a good time and just be a resource any way I can."