Brandon Hill Bio
Brandon Hill (born September 6, 2000) is an American professional football safety who has played in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Pittsburgh Panthers before being selected by the Houston Texans in the 2023 NFL Draft. Known for his coverage instincts and tackling in the secondary, Hill began his professional career as a late-round draft pick and has spent time moving between the active roster and the practice squad while working to establish himself in the league.
Early Life and Background
Brandon Hill was born on September 6, 2000, and grew up in Apopka, Florida. He attended Wekiva High School, where he played high school football and developed into a college-level recruit. Coming out of Wekiva, he was rated a three-star recruit by national scouting services, a mark that reflected his physical tools and on-field production even if it stopped short of five-star billing.
Hill’s recruitment drew significant attention. According to publicly available recruiting reports, he held 23 total scholarship offers from college programs before making his college decision. The volume of offers reflected his evaluation as a defensive back with the size and skill set to play at the FBS level. He ultimately committed to play college football at Pittsburgh, choosing the Panthers over his other suitors.
Path to Professional Football
After completing his high school career at Wekiva, Hill enrolled at the University of Pittsburgh, where he joined a Panthers program with a strong recent track record of producing NFL defensive backs. He spent the early portion of his college career working into the rotation, learning the responsibilities of the safety position at the ACC level. Over time he grew into a regular contributor and a respected presence in Pittsburgh’s secondary.
His development at Pittsburgh culminated in postseason recognition. He was named second-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) as a redshirt sophomore, an honor that placed him among the top defensive backs in one of college football’s premier conferences. The selection confirmed his status as an NFL prospect heading into his final college seasons.
Brandon Hill Career
College Career (2019-2022)
Brandon Hill joined the Pittsburgh Panthers and played in four games during his true freshman season while preserving a redshirt year, a common approach that allowed him to keep a year of eligibility while getting early experience. The following season, as a redshirt freshman, he became a more regular contributor on defense. He recorded 27 tackles along with two forced fumbles and one interception, showing his ability to impact the ball while also delivering as a tackler.
Hill continued to progress through his redshirt sophomore and redshirt junior seasons. His redshirt sophomore campaign earned him second-team All-ACC recognition, validating his growth into one of the conference’s better safeties. During his redshirt junior year, he posted 67 tackles and two passes broken up, demonstrating his range and coverage ability. After that season, Hill announced that he would forgo playing in the 2022 Sun Bowl and declare for the 2023 NFL Draft, closing his college career to begin his professional journey.
NFL Debut and Houston Texans (2023)
Brandon Hill entered the 2023 NFL Draft and was selected by the Houston Texans in the seventh round, 248th overall. Joining a Texans secondary in the midst of a rebuild, Hill competed for a roster spot through training camp and the preseason. On August 29, 2023, he was waived by the team as part of final roster cuts. Shortly afterward, he was re-signed to the Houston Texans’ practice squad, keeping him within the organization as he continued his development.
Hill remained on the practice squad into the early part of the following year. On January 22, 2024, he signed a reserve/future contract with the Texans, a move that secured his place on the team’s offseason roster and gave him an opportunity to compete for a larger role heading into 2024.
Injury and Return (2024-2025)
Hill’s momentum was interrupted before the 2024 regular season. On August 25, 2024, it was announced that he would miss the entirety of the 2024 season after suffering a right knee injury in the team’s preseason finale. The injury was a significant setback, taking him off the field for a full year during a critical stage of his early professional career.
On March 17, 2025, the Texans waived Brandon Hill after a failed physical. Later in the year, on December 16, he was re-signed to the practice squad, signaling the team’s continued interest in his development. He was released on December 23, closing out that stretch with the organization.
Notable Events and Milestones
Brandon Hill’s most notable milestones include his second-team All-ACC selection in 2021 and his selection by the Houston Texans in the seventh round of the 2023 NFL Draft. Being drafted 248th overall, despite holding 23 college offers and earning all-conference recognition, illustrates the depth of the safety class that year. His recovery from a preseason knee injury and subsequent return to a practice-squad deal also mark a key chapter in his early professional story.
Brandon Hill Family
Family Background
Brandon Hill was raised in Apopka, Florida, where he attended Wekiva High School. Public biographical sources do not provide verified details about his parents or broader family background.
Personal Life
Public information about Brandon Hill’s personal life is limited. There are no widely reported details regarding a spouse, partner, or children. As of available reporting, he remains focused on his football career.
2025 Season Performance
Brandon Hill’s 2025 season has been defined by movement between the Houston Texans’ active roster and their practice squad. After being waived on March 17, 2025, following a failed physical, he spent much of the calendar year away from the active roster while continuing his recovery and conditioning. His re-signing to the practice squad on December 16 reflected the Texans’ continued interest in his long-term development as a safety.
Because he was not on the 53-man active roster for the bulk of the regular season, his in-game contributions during the 2025 campaign were limited. Hill’s role within the organization centered on practice participation and readiness, with the understanding that a return to the active roster would depend on health, performance, and team need.
Looking ahead, Brandon Hill remains under contract discussions within the Texans’ broader organizational structure. His path back to regular playing time will likely depend on full recovery from his prior knee injury and continued production on the practice field. For a young safety who earned All-ACC honors at Pittsburgh, the 2025 season represents a reset point with room to grow in the seasons that follow.