Justin Hollins Bio
Justin Hollins (born January 15, 1996) is an American professional football defensive end who has played in the National Football League since 2019. He played college football for the Oregon Ducks as an outside linebacker and was selected by the Denver Broncos in the fifth round of the 2019 NFL Draft. Across his professional career, Hollins has suited up for the Denver Broncos, Los Angeles Rams, Green Bay Packers, New York Giants, Los Angeles Chargers, Washington Commanders, and Buffalo Bills, establishing himself as a reliable rotational pass rusher and special teams contributor. He is a Super Bowl champion, having been part of the Los Angeles Rams squad that won Super Bowl LVI following the 2021 season.
Early Life and Background
Justin Hollins was born on January 15, 1996, in Arlington, Texas. He grew up in the Dallas-Fort Worth area and attended Grace Preparatory Academy before transferring to Martin High School, where he completed his senior year and graduated. The Arlington football community produced a deep pool of high-level talent during his teenage years, and Hollins developed on the same Martin defensive line as future 2017 NFL Draft first-overall pick Myles Garrett of the Cleveland Browns.
During his time at Martin High School, Hollins recorded 59 tackles and four sacks, building the foundation for his college recruitment. He was rated a three-star prospect by several recruiting services and drew scholarship offers from more than a dozen programs. Among his offers were reported invitations from Oklahoma, Baylor, Oklahoma State, and Iowa, before he ultimately committed to play college football at the University of Oregon.
Path to Professional Football
Hollins spent five seasons with the Oregon Ducks, redshirting his sophomore year to add bulk and refine his technique. Following his redshirt season, he became a regular starter on the Oregon defensive line, finishing his first full year of action with 51 total tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, and three sacks, ranking second on the team in both tackles for loss and sacks.
He continued to develop in his redshirt junior season, posting 59 tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, and an interception returned for a touchdown. As a redshirt senior, Hollins earned first-team All-Pac-12 honors after totaling 64 tackles, 14.5 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks, five forced fumbles, an interception, and six passes defended. He was the only player in the Football Bowl Subdivision that season to record at least five sacks, five forced fumbles, and one interception. He concluded his Oregon career with 184 total tackles, 36 tackles for loss, 14 sacks, two interceptions, seven forced fumbles, and three fumble recoveries, and was named defensive MVP of the 2019 East-West Shrine Game.
Justin Hollins Career
Early Career with the Denver Broncos (2019–2020)
The Denver Broncos selected Justin Hollins in the fifth round, 156th overall, of the 2019 NFL Draft, acquiring the pick by trading quarterback Trevor Siemian to the Minnesota Vikings. He signed a four-year rookie contract with $300,000 in guaranteed money on May 14, 2019, and made his NFL debut on September 9, 2019, against the Oakland Raiders. Hollins recorded his first career sack on November 3, 2019, against the Cleveland Browns and finished his rookie campaign with 21 tackles, one sack, and two passes defended across 15 games. He was waived by the Broncos on September 5, 2020, as the team reshaped its defensive depth chart.
Los Angeles Rams Era (2020–2022)
On September 6, 2020, the Los Angeles Rams claimed Hollins off waivers, and he quickly contributed as a rotational edge rusher. In Week 4 against the New York Giants, he recorded his first sack as a Ram during a 17-9 win, and in Week 13 against the Arizona Cardinals, he produced a strip sack on quarterback Kyler Murray that was recovered by Los Angeles during a 38-28 victory. The following season was interrupted by a partially torn pectoral injury in Week 3 that sent him to injured reserve on September 27, 2021, but he was activated on December 13 and returned in time for the postseason.
Hollins reached Super Bowl LVI, where the Rams defeated the Cincinnati Bengals 23-20 to capture the championship. He recorded one tackle in the game and earned a Super Bowl ring as part of the title-winning defense. The Rams waived him on November 22, 2022, opening the next chapter of his journeyman career.
Green Bay Packers and New York Giants (2022–2023)
On November 24, 2022, the Green Bay Packers claimed Hollins off waivers, giving him a late-season opportunity in the NFC North. He impressed enough during his limited time in Green Bay that the Packers re-signed him on March 23, 2023, to a one-year, $1.2 million deal, signaling an investment in his role as a depth edge defender. The Packers released Hollins on October 21, 2023, after which the New York Giants signed him to their practice squad on October 24, 2023, providing a landing spot as he worked to return to the active roster.
Los Angeles Chargers and Washington Commanders (2023–2024)
On November 15, 2023, the Los Angeles Chargers signed Hollins off the New York Giants practice squad, adding another stop along the AFC West for the veteran pass rusher. He was released the following offseason and signed with the Washington Commanders on August 19, 2024, before being released on August 27, 2024. The Commanders re-signed him to their practice squad on September 19, 2024, and he was released on October 8, 2024, as rosters settled for the regular season.
Driving Style and Strengths
Hollins is built for the modern edge position at 6 feet 5 inches tall and 248 pounds, combining length with the kind of closing burst that translates well against mobile quarterbacks. He has shown the most impact on passing downs, where his get-off and leverage allow him to threaten the edge, while his special teams work has helped him remain a reliable roster piece across multiple organizations.
Notable Events and Milestones
The defining moment of Justin Hollins’ career came with the Los Angeles Rams’ victory in Super Bowl LVI, capping a postseason run that included his return from a pectoral injury. His first career sack against the Cleveland Browns in 2019 and his first sack as a Ram against the New York Giants in 2020 stand out as early personal milestones, and his selection as defensive MVP of the 2019 East-West Shrine Game highlighted his pre-draft reputation.
Justin Hollins Career Highlights
Justin Hollins’ professional resume features stints with seven NFL franchises, anchored by a Super Bowl LVI championship with the Los Angeles Rams following the 2021 season. He has produced single-season sack totals highlighted by his 2020 work with the Rams, when he delivered multiple pressures and a notable strip sack of Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray. Beyond the win totals, his journeyman path reflects a player whose special teams reliability and positional flexibility have kept him in demand across the league.
Defensive Production Across the NFL
During his rookie season with the Denver Broncos in 2019, Hollins appeared in 15 games, recording 21 tackles, one sack, and two passes defended. With the Los Angeles Rams in 2020, he posted his first sack as a Ram against the New York Giants in Week 4 and added a strip sack on Kyler Murray during a Week 13 win over the Arizona Cardinals. His 2021 season was shortened by a pectoral injury, but he returned to contribute during the Rams’ Super Bowl run. Subsequent stints with the Green Bay Packers, New York Giants, Los Angeles Chargers, and Washington Commanders were primarily as a rotational pass rusher and core special teams player.
Other Performances
Outside of the NFL regular season, Hollins earned defensive MVP honors at the 2019 East-West Shrine Game, capping his pre-draft showcase with 10 tackles, three tackles for loss, and two sacks. His first-team All-Pac-12 selection as a redshirt senior at Oregon also stands as a peak collegiate achievement, and his Super Bowl LVI ring remains the headline trophy of his professional career.
Justin Hollins Family
Family Background and Football Lineage
Justin Hollins grew up in Arlington, Texas, where he came up through the local youth and high school football system. At Martin High School, he played alongside Myles Garrett, the future Cleveland Browns star and 2017 NFL Draft first-overall pick, giving Hollins an early connection to elite NFL talent. Public details about his parents and siblings are limited.
Personal Life
Public information about Justin Hollins’ personal life, including his marital status, spouse, and children, has not been widely reported. He has built much of his public presence around his professional football career, with his official social media channels reflecting his on-field work and team affiliations.
2025 Season Outlook
Justin Hollins signed with the Buffalo Bills on August 5, 2025, marking his eighth NFL organization and another opportunity to compete for a role on a contending defense. The Bills placed him on injured reserve on August 14, 2025, before releasing him on August 19, 2025, a sequence that interrupted what had appeared to be a promising training-camp fit along the Buffalo edge.
With a Super Bowl LVI ring already on his résumé and experience across multiple schemes, Hollins remains a viable rotational pass rusher and special teams contributor as he looks for his next opportunity. His track record of bouncing back from prior roster moves, including stops with the Green Bay Packers, New York Giants, and Los Angeles Chargers, suggests another team could pursue his services once he clears waivers or recovers from injury. The 2025 season represents another chapter in a journeyman career defined by resilience, defensive versatility, and a championship pedigree.