Isaiah Hodgins Bio
Isaiah Hodgins (born October 21, 1998) is an American professional football wide receiver for the New York Giants of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Oregon State Beavers and was selected by the Buffalo Bills in the sixth round of the 2020 NFL draft. Standing 6 feet 4 inches tall and weighing about 200 pounds, Hodgins has built his career as a reliable possession receiver with a knack for finding the end zone in key moments.
Early Life and Background
Isaiah Hodgins was born on October 21, 1998, in San Jose, California. He grew up in a family with a strong football pedigree. His parents are Stephanie and James Hodgins, and his father James was a fullback in the NFL, winning a Super Bowl with the St. Louis Rams. Isaiah also has a brother, Isaac, who has played college football at Oregon State on the defensive line.
Hodgins attended Berean Christian High School in Walnut Creek, California, where he developed into a top-tier high school prospect. Rated as a 4-star recruit, he drew scholarship offers from programs including Nebraska, Oregon, and Washington State. He ultimately committed to Oregon State University, choosing to follow in family footsteps while carving out his own path as a wide receiver.
Path to Professional Football
At Oregon State, Hodgins made an immediate impact, entering his true freshman year in 2017 as a starter. He started six of 11 games that season and recorded 31 receptions for 275 yards and two touchdowns. As a sophomore in 2018, he started nine of 11 games, finishing with 59 receptions for 876 yards and five touchdowns, establishing himself as one of the most productive young receivers in the Pac-12.
His junior season in 2019 represented a true breakout. Hodgins caught 86 passes for 1,171 yards and 13 touchdowns, earning Second-team All-Pac-12 honors. Following that campaign, he announced he would forgo his senior season and declare for the 2020 NFL draft. The Buffalo Bills selected him in the sixth round, 207th overall, and he signed a four-year, $3.45 million contract on May 7, 2020, that included a $158,888 signing bonus.
Isaiah Hodgins Career
Early Career (2020-2021)
Hodgins’s rookie year with the Bills was derailed by injuries. He was placed on injured reserve on September 6, 2020, before he could appear in a regular-season game. Although he was designated to return from injured reserve on November 24 and resumed practicing, he underwent shoulder surgery on December 8 and missed the remainder of the season.
In 2021, Hodgins was waived by the Bills on August 31 and re-signed to the practice squad the next day. He made his NFL debut on December 26, 2021, in a week 16 game against the New England Patriots. After the Bills were eliminated in the Divisional Round of the 2021 playoffs, he signed a reserve/future contract on January 24, 2022.
Buffalo Bills and First Giants Stint (2022-2024)
Hodgins began the 2022 season with the Bills, was waived on August 30, and re-signed to the practice squad. He was promoted to the active roster on October 8, 2022, and caught his first four NFL passes in a 38-3 week 5 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. He was waived on November 1, 2022, and quickly claimed by the New York Giants.
With the Giants, Hodgins emerged as a key contributor during the second half of the 2022 season, catching touchdowns in four of his last five regular-season games and totaling 351 yards on 33 receptions. He carried that momentum into the playoffs, finishing with 105 receiving yards and a touchdown on eight receptions in a 31-24 NFC wild card victory over the Minnesota Vikings. On February 16, 2023, the Giants re-signed him to a one-year contract, and he appeared in all 17 games in 2023, starting nine and finishing with 21 receptions for 230 yards and three touchdowns. He was waived on August 27, 2024, and re-signed to the practice squad.
2025 Season Movements
On January 7, 2025, Hodgins signed a reserve/future contract with the San Francisco 49ers. He was released on August 26, 2025, as part of final roster cuts. Shortly after, on September 17, 2025, he signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers’ practice squad. The New York Giants then signed him off the Steelers’ practice squad on November 13, 2025, marking his return to the team.
Driving Style and Strengths
Hodgins is a tall, possession-style receiver who uses his 6-foot-4 frame to win contested catches and create mismatches in the red zone. He shows reliable hands, the ability to track the ball down the field, and a willingness to work the middle of the field. His route tree has continued to expand as he has gained experience, and he is viewed as a dependable target on third downs and in scoring situations.
Notable Events and Milestones
His first NFL receptions came in a 38-3 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers in week 5 of the 2022 season. His most memorable performance followed in the 2022 NFC wild card game, when he posted 105 receiving yards and a touchdown against the Minnesota Vikings. He also earned Second-team All-Pac-12 recognition after his 2019 junior season at Oregon State.
Isaiah Hodgins Family
Family Background and Football Lineage
Hodgins comes from a family with deep roots in football. His father, James Hodgins, played fullback in the NFL and won a Super Bowl with the St. Louis Rams. His mother is Stephanie Hodgins. The family supported Isaiah’s development as a young receiver, and his brother Isaac has continued the family’s football tradition by playing on the defensive line at Oregon State.
Personal Life
Isaiah Hodgins is a Christian. He was raised in the San Jose, California, area and later attended school in nearby Walnut Creek. He maintains an active presence on social media, where he shares updates from his playing career and faith. Public details about his romantic relationships and marital status are not widely documented.
2025 Season Performance
Hodgins’s 2025 campaign has been defined by roster movement. After signing a reserve/future deal with the San Francisco 49ers in January, he was released in late August during final cuts. He joined the Pittsburgh Steelers’ practice squad in mid-September before the New York Giants signed him off that practice squad on November 13, 2025, returning him to the franchise where he enjoyed his most productive stretch.
With the Giants, Hodgins is positioned to contribute as a depth receiver and red-zone option, similar to his late-2022 role. His familiarity with the offensive system and his prior chemistry with the Giants’ quarterbacks could allow him to carve out a meaningful role over the final stretch of the regular season. His physical tools and prior postseason production offer a clear pathway back into the rotation.
Looking ahead, Hodgins will look to stabilize his career with the Giants and put together a consistent run of healthy, productive games. A strong finish in 2025 could secure his role on the depth chart and set up contract opportunities for the following season.