David Sills Bio
David Sills V is an American professional football wide receiver for the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League (NFL). Born on May 29, 1996, in Wilmington, Delaware, Sills first gained national attention as a seventh-grade quarterback before his career took him through major college football, multiple NFL organizations, and a return to professional football in 2025. Standing 6 feet 3 inches tall and weighing around 212 pounds, he is known for his size, reliable hands, and red-zone production.
After a high school career that included one of the earliest verbal commitments ever offered by a major program, Sills switched from quarterback to wide receiver at West Virginia University. He led the nation in touchdown receptions in 2017 and earned All-American honors. Since going undrafted in 2019, he has spent time with the Buffalo Bills, New York Giants, and Denver Broncos before joining the Atlanta Falcons.
Early Life and Background
David Sills V was born in 1996 in Wilmington, Delaware, to Denise and David Sills IV. He grew up with two older sisters, Emma and Abby. His father is a commercial developer and contractor who played cornerback for the Virginia Military Institute, giving the family a clear connection to the sport from an early age.
Sills began playing youth football at age six and started training at age nine with private quarterback coach Steve Clarkson. His physical development and early training placed him on the radar of college recruiters well before he reached high school, and by seventh grade he was already attracting national media coverage for his arm talent and field awareness.
Path to American Football
Sills attended Red Lion Christian Academy in Delaware, where he started as a freshman quarterback. In 2010, at age thirteen, he received a scholarship offer from USC head coach Lane Kiffin and gave a verbal commitment to the Trojans, becoming one of the youngest football players ever offered by a major program. Sports Illustrated later described him as one of the greatest prospects in the history of the sport.
As a sophomore, Sills transferred to Eastern Christian Academy, a private school in Maryland organized largely by his father. Eligibility issues limited the team to three games, and during his junior year a knuckle injury affected his throwing mechanics. He decommitted from USC in June 2014 and, on July 16, 2014, announced his commitment to West Virginia University. After a year as a Mountaineer quarterback, he transferred to El Camino College in 2016, where he played quarterback and threw for 1,636 yards and 15 touchdowns.
David Sills Career
Early Career (2015–2016)
Sills enrolled early at West Virginia in 2015 and competed for the starting quarterback job before moving to wide receiver. On October 17, 2015, he made his collegiate debut against the Baylor Bears, recording two receptions for 64 yards, including a 35-yard touchdown. He capped his 2015 season with the game-winning touchdown reception in the 2016 Cactus Bowl against Arizona State, finishing with seven receptions for 131 yards.
After spending 2016 at El Camino College, where he resumed playing quarterback, Sills announced his return to West Virginia in December 2016. The decision reshaped his career, as head coach Dana Holgorsen and his staff planned to use him as a wide receiver alongside returning quarterback Will Grier.
West Virginia Breakthrough (2017–2018)
Sills opened the 2017 season with nine receptions for 94 yards and two touchdowns against Virginia Tech. The following week he caught seven passes for 153 yards and three touchdowns against East Carolina. By the end of October, he had built a national lead in touchdown receptions, finishing the year with 18, tied for the most in the Football Bowl Subdivision. He was a Biletnikoff Award finalist, a first-team All-Big 12 selection, and a 2017 first-team All-American according to Sporting News, Sports Illustrated, and CBS Sports.
In 2018, Sills opened the season with seven receptions for 140 yards and two touchdowns against Tennessee. He added multiple two-touchdown performances against Kansas State, Baylor, Texas, and Oklahoma, and finished the year with 15 touchdown receptions to lead the Big 12. He was named first-team All-Big 12 and earned second-team All-American recognition from the Walter Camp Football Foundation and the American Football Coaches Association.
Buffalo Bills Era (2019)
Sills signed with the Buffalo Bills as an undrafted free agent on April 27, 2019. He was waived on August 31, 2019, before the regular season began, closing a brief but documented stint with the organization.
New York Giants Era (2019–2022)
On September 1, 2019, Sills was signed to the New York Giants practice squad and promoted to the active roster on December 17. A foot fracture during 2020 training camp placed him on injured reserve, and he split the 2020 and 2021 seasons between the practice squad and active roster. On March 11, 2022, he re-signed with the Giants and surpassed 100 career receiving yards in Week 7 against the Jacksonville Jaguars. He was released on December 31, 2022, and re-signed to the practice squad on January 3, 2023, before signing a reserve/future contract on January 26, 2023, and being waived on August 29, 2023.
Denver Broncos Era (2023–2024)
On August 31, 2023, Sills was signed to the Denver Broncos practice squad and signed a reserve/future contract on January 8, 2024. He was released on August 27, 2024, and re-signed to the practice squad the next day.
Atlanta Falcons Era (2025–Present)
On January 21, 2025, Sills signed a reserve/future contract with the Atlanta Falcons. After making the initial 53-man roster, he was released on September 5 and re-signed to the practice squad the next day. He was promoted to the active roster on September 13, 2025. Sills caught his first career NFL touchdown against the New Orleans Saints on November 23, 2025, and added a second career touchdown the following week against the New York Jets.
Driving Style and Strengths
Although wide receivers are typically described in terms of route running and contested catches, Sills brings an unusual background to the position. His early training as a quarterback gives him a strong understanding of coverages, leverage, and timing. At 6 feet 3 inches, he is a reliable red-zone target who uses his frame to shield defenders and track the ball in traffic.
Notable Events and Milestones
Sills’ first NFL touchdown with the Atlanta Falcons in November 2025 marked a major personal milestone after years on practice squads. His 2017 Biletnikoff Award finalist season, with 18 touchdown catches, remains the statistical highlight of his football career and the foundation of his professional reputation.
David Sills Career Wins
David Sills V has built a career highlighted more by statistical production and longevity than by championship hardware. His biggest wins include leading the nation in touchdown receptions in 2017, earning All-American honors in both 2017 and 2018, and reaching the active roster of an NFL team in 2025.
West Virginia Highlights
Across two seasons as a starting wide receiver for the West Virginia Mountaineers, Sills posted 18 touchdown receptions in 2017 and 15 in 2018, leading the Big 12 in scoring catches in his senior year. He was a Biletnikoff Award finalist in 2017 and a first-team All-Big 12 selection in both 2017 and 2018.
Other Wins and Performances
At El Camino College, Sills threw for 1,636 yards and 15 touchdowns during his lone season with the Warriors. With the Atlanta Falcons in 2025, he recorded his first two career NFL touchdowns, capping a long road through practice squads in Buffalo, New York, and Denver.
David Sills Family
Family Background and Football Lineage
David Sills V comes from a football-aware family. His father, David Sills IV, played cornerback for the Virginia Military Institute and later became a commercial developer and contractor. His mother, Denise, raised David and his two older sisters, Emma and Abby, in Delaware. The family has been closely involved in his athletic development, with his father helping to shape his early training and high school opportunities.
Personal Life
Public details about Sills’ personal life are limited. He is known to keep a low profile off the field and maintains an active presence on Instagram. As of the most recent available information, he is not publicly known to be married and has no confirmed public information about children.
2025 Season Performance
David Sills V entered the 2025 season with the Atlanta Falcons after signing a reserve/future contract in January. After a brief release and a quick return to the practice squad, he was promoted to the active roster on September 13, 2025, and went on to record his first two career NFL touchdowns in late November.
His early production came against divisional opponents, with his first score coming against the New Orleans Saints and his second against the New York Jets. Those touchdowns signaled his emergence as a trusted red-zone option for the Falcons.
Looking ahead, Sills has a chance to solidify a role in the Falcons’ passing game after years on practice squads. With size, red-zone production, and a quarterback’s understanding of the game, he has the tools to remain a contributor for Atlanta beyond 2025.