Hughes received three varsity letters in football while attending Austin High School in Fort Bend County, Texas, where he played running back. As a senior in 2006 Hughes rushed for 1,412 yards and totaled 19 touchdowns to capture First-team All-District 20-5A honors. Hughes also earned First-team All District as a kick returner. Hughes also lettered in baseball where he played third base and pitcher. Considered only a two-star recruit out of high-school by recruiting service Rivals.com, Hughes failed to draw a lot of attention and only received a few scholarship offers. He picked TCU over Iowa State, Arizona State and North Texas.
College career
Hughes accepted an athletic scholarship to attend Texas Christian University, and played for coach Gary Patterson's TCU Horned Frogs football team from 2006 to 2009. Patterson recognized Hughes' natural athleticism and assigned him jersey number 98, usually reserved for defensive lineman. Before the season, Patterson worked Hughes in at defensive end, and he was able to earn playing time there as a freshman. Once at TCU, Hughes was one of just four true freshmen to play for the Horned Frogs in 2006. He recorded his first career sack in a 31-17 win over Army. He played in all 13 games as sophomore in 2007, and recorded at least one tackle in each of those contests. Taking over as a full-time starter as a junior in 2008, Hughes recorded 15 sacks, 18.5 tackles for a loss, 6 forced fumbles, 2 interceptions and returned one of those picks for a touchdown. He led the nation with his 15 sacks. He garnered first-team All-Mountain West Conference and MWC Defensive Player of the Year honors, and was recognized as a consensus first-team All-American. In 2009 Hughes had a career-high 54 tackles and 11.5 sacks. That season, the Horned Frogs ranked first in total defense, allowing just 233 yards per game and were sixth in the nation with 12.4 points allowed per game. He was a first-team All-Mountain West selection again, and was recognized as a unanimous first-team All-American. Additionally, he was named the MWC Defensive Player of the Year for the second time in two years. His career totals now include 28.5 sacks, 139 total tackles, 39 tackles-for-loss and seven forced fumbles. Hughes earned his bachelor's degree in communications from TCU in 2010.
Hughes was selected by the Indianapolis Colts 31st overall in the 2010 NFL Draft. He is the first TCU Horned Frog selected in the first round of an NFL Draft since LaDainian Tomlinson went fifth overall to the San Diego Chargers in the 2001 NFL Draft, and the first TCU defensive player selected in the first round since Bob Lilly, who was selected 13th overall by the Dallas Cowboys in the 1961 NFL Draft. During his rookie season, Hughes appeared in 12 games making six tackles. In 2011, Hughes appeared in 12 games with one start making 13 tackles and one sack. On November 16, 2012, Hughes was fined $21,000 for a late hit against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 10. He finished the 2012 season by appearing in all 16 games with six starts recording 32 tackles, one pass defended, and four sacks.
Buffalo Bills
On April 29, 2013, the Colts traded Hughes to the Buffalo Bills for linebacker Kelvin Sheppard. Hughes finished his first season with the Bills by making 46 tackles, 10 sacks and two forced fumbles in 16 games with one start. He was also named to the USA Today All-Joe Team. On March 9, 2015, the Buffalo Bills and Hughes agreed to a five-year contract worth at least $45 million. He played through the majority of the 2015 season with a chipped bone in his left wrist as a hybrid LB/DE. In 2016, as the Bills more fully committed to a 3-4 scheme, Hughes was moved from defensive end to outside linebacker. On May 21, 2019, Hughes signed a two-year contract extension with the Bills. In the AFC Wild Card game against the Houston Texans, Hughes sacked quarterback Deshaun Watson 3 times during the 22–19 overtime loss.
NFL statistics
Regular Season
Postseason
Personal life
Jerry and Meghan Hughes were wed as of April 2015. and have two children, JR and Hayden Hughes.
