B.J. Hill Bio
Bobby Gene Hill Jr., widely known as B.J. Hill, is an American professional football defensive tackle for the Cincinnati Bengals of the National Football League (NFL). Born on April 20, 1995, in Oakboro, North Carolina, he played college football for the NC State Wolfpack before being selected by the New York Giants in the third round of the 2018 NFL draft. Standing 6 feet 3 inches tall and weighing approximately 141 kilograms, Hill has developed into a dependable interior presence known for his strength at the line of scrimmage and his ability to disrupt opposing backfields.
Hill spent his first three professional seasons with the Giants before a 2021 trade sent him to Cincinnati, where he has since played a central role on the Bengals’ defensive line. Across his career, he has contributed as both a pass rusher and a run defender, and he has been part of teams that reached the AFC Championship Game. He remains active in the NFL heading into the 2025 season.
Early Life and Background
Bobby Gene Hill Jr. was born on April 20, 1995, in Oakboro, North Carolina, a small community in Stanly County. He grew up in the area and attended West Stanly High School, where he quickly emerged as a multi-sport athlete. Along with football, Hill competed in track and field, baseball, and basketball, building the athletic foundation that would later shape his football career.
As a senior at West Stanly, Hill was a two-way player, lining up at defensive end and also carrying the ball as a running back. He recorded nine sacks, an interception, and five rushing touchdowns during that final high school season, drawing attention from college scouts. Rated as a three-star defensive end recruit by 247Sports.com, Hill chose to stay close to home and committed to NC State on June 12, 2013, turning down offers from East Carolina and North Carolina.
Path to the NFL
Hill enrolled at NC State in 2014 and quickly worked his way into the Wolfpack’s defensive rotation. He became a starting defensive tackle midway through his freshman year and held that role for the remainder of his college career. Across four seasons, Hill appeared in 51 games and made 44 starts, finishing his time in Raleigh with 187 tackles, nine sacks, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, and 10 pass deflections.
Following his senior season in 2017, Hill earned Honorable Mention All-ACC recognition after recording 57 tackles, three sacks, and a forced fumble. On December 4, 2017, he accepted an invitation to the 2018 Reese’s Senior Bowl, where he impressed scouts during practices before playing in the January 27, 2018, game for the North squad. He followed that with a strong showing at the NFL Scouting Combine, finishing third among defensive linemen in the bench press and fifth in the three-cone drill. At the conclusion of the pre-draft process, NFL draft experts projected him as a second or third round pick, and he was ranked as the fifth best defensive tackle prospect by Scouts Inc. and seventh by DraftScout.com.
B.J. Hill Career
Early Career (2018–2020)
The New York Giants selected Hill in the third round with the 69th overall pick of the 2018 NFL draft, making him the fifth defensive tackle taken that year. The pick used to select him had been acquired from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in exchange for Jason Pierre-Paul. On June 7, 2018, Hill signed a four-year, $4.04 million rookie contract that included a $1.02 million signing bonus.
Hill made an immediate impact as a rookie, recording his first career sack in Week 3 against the Houston Texans and adding another sack the following week against the New Orleans Saints. His statistical production dipped in 2019, when he finished with 36 tackles and one sack, but he opened the 2020 season by sacking Mitchell Trubisky of the Chicago Bears in Week 2. Across his three Giants seasons, Hill served as a rotational defensive tackle who flashed both run-stopping strength and interior pass-rush ability.
New York Giants Era (2018–2020)
Hill’s tenure with the Giants laid the groundwork for his NFL reputation as a stout, physical interior defender. Drafted to help anchor a defensive line in transition, he played in a rotation that included veteran linemen, and he showed flashes of the disruptive potential that had made him a Senior Bowl standout. Although his second-year statistical dip illustrated the typical adjustment period for young interior linemen, his Week 2 sack of Trubisky in 2020 reaffirmed his ability to finish plays against mobile quarterbacks.
Cincinnati Bengals Era (2021–Present)
On August 30, 2021, Hill was traded to the Cincinnati Bengals in exchange for center Billy Price, beginning the most productive phase of his career. He quickly became a starter on the Bengals’ defensive front and played a significant role during the team’s run to Super Bowl LVI. In the AFC Championship Game against the Kansas City Chiefs, Hill intercepted Patrick Mahomes late in the third quarter to help set up the game-tying touchdown in Cincinnati’s 27–24 overtime victory.
On March 15, 2022, Hill signed a three-year, $30 million contract extension with the Bengals, cementing his long-term place on the roster. He finished the 2022 season with three sacks, 68 tackles, four passes defended, one forced fumble, and three fumble recoveries. On March 12, 2025, he signed a three-year, $33 million extension, continuing his run as a key piece of Cincinnati’s defense.
Driving Style and Strengths
Hill is recognized for his power and leverage at the line of scrimmage, using his frame and lower-body strength to hold up against double teams in the run game. He has also developed into a reliable interior pass rusher who can collapse the pocket and finish plays against the quarterback. His combination of run defense, pass-rush utility, and football intelligence has made him a versatile piece in defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo’s scheme.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of the defining moments of Hill’s career came in the 2021 AFC Championship Game, when his interception of Patrick Mahomes sparked Cincinnati’s comeback win and sent the Bengals to the Super Bowl. He has also reached two multi-year contract extensions with the Bengals, in 2022 and again in 2025, reflecting his continued value to the franchise.
B.J. Hill Career Highlights
Across his professional career, Hill has built a résumé that includes a third-round draft selection, a Super Bowl appearance, an AFC Championship interception, and two nine-figure contract cycles with the Bengals. While exact career sack and tackle totals beyond what is explicitly confirmed are not included here, his verified highlights illustrate a steady climb from rotational rookie to entrenched starter.
Cincinnati Bengals Highlights
Since arriving in Cincinnati, Hill has been a fixture on the Bengals’ defensive line. He signed a three-year, $30 million extension in March 2022 and followed it with a three-year, $33 million extension in March 2025. His most memorable Bengals moment came during the 2021 AFC Championship Game, when his interception of Patrick Mahomes shifted the momentum of a game Cincinnati would win in overtime.
New York Giants Highlights
With the Giants, Hill’s standout early moments included first- and second-career sacks as a rookie in 2018 and a Week 2 takedown of Mitchell Trubisky in 2020. His three Giants seasons provided the foundation for the larger role he would assume in Cincinnati.
B.J. Hill Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Bobby Gene Hill Jr. was raised in Oakboro, North Carolina, where he attended West Stanly High School and developed into a multi-sport athlete. Publicly verified details about his immediate family are limited beyond the connection to his hometown and high school community, and additional personal information has not been confirmed for publication.
2025 Season Outlook
Hill enters the 2025 NFL season firmly entrenched as a starting defensive tackle for the Cincinnati Bengals after signing a three-year, $33 million contract extension in March 2025. The deal reflects the organization’s confidence in his ability to anchor the interior of the defensive line alongside his teammates in the trenches. Coming off seasons in which he produced multi-sack totals and consistently contributed in run defense, Hill is positioned to remain a central figure in defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo’s game plans.
With Cincinnati aiming to remain a contender in the AFC, Hill’s role as a versatile interior defender gives the Bengals flexibility against both the run and the pass. His experience in high-pressure postseason games, including the 2021 AFC Championship, also makes him a steady veteran presence in the locker room. As the 2025 schedule unfolds, Hill is expected to log heavy snap counts and continue his pattern of disruptive, physical play at the line of scrimmage.