Kurt Hinish Bio
Kurt Braeden Hinish (born April 27, 1999) is an American professional football defensive tackle for the Houston Texans of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and joined the Texans as an undrafted free agent in 2022. Standing about 6 feet 1 inch tall and playing around 300 pounds, he has built his career on positional discipline, run defense, and steady growth along the interior line.
Over three seasons in Houston, Hinish has developed from a depth piece into a rotational defender trusted on early downs and short-yardage situations. His path from a Pittsburgh high school standout to a record-setting Notre Dame captain to an NFL roster mainstay reflects a player whose professional ascent has been defined by perseverance, preparation, and consistency.
Early Life and Background
Kurt Braeden Hinish was born on April 27, 1999, and grew up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, a city with a deep football culture and a long history of producing tough, blue-collar players. He attended Central Catholic High School in Pittsburgh, where he quickly became a focal point of the football program. The Pittsburgh area’s emphasis on physical, fundamentally sound play helped shape his early approach to the defensive line position.
As a junior, Hinish recorded 32 tackles and helped Central Catholic compile a 15-1 record, establishing himself as one of the most reliable interior defenders in the region. In his senior season of 2016, he made 27 tackles and three sacks, performances that earned him first-team all-state honors. He was also named to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Fabulous 22 and the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Terrific 25, two of the most respected all-area teams in Western Pennsylvania.
His senior year drew national attention as well. Hinish was ranked the eighth-best player in Pennsylvania and the number 26 overall defensive tackle in his class by ESPN. That blend of local accolades and national recognition positioned him as a priority recruit for several college programs.
Path to American Football
Hinish committed to the University of Notre Dame in March 2016, choosing one of the most tradition-rich programs in college football. He enrolled with the goal of developing into a complete defensive tackle, and the Fighting Irish coaching staff placed him on a steady development track. His first season in 2017 saw him appear in 13 games, where he recorded eight tackles while learning the rigors of major college football.
As a sophomore in 2018, Hinish played in all 13 games and made 13 tackles along with 1.5 sacks, showing incremental progress against more experienced offensive linemen. The following year, he earned a starting role and registered 15 tackles, two sacks, and a forced fumble across every game of the season. His reliability and football intelligence earned him a reputation as a coach’s player who could be trusted in multiple defensive schemes.
His senior campaign in 2020 produced 19 tackles, 7.5 tackles-for-loss, and two sacks in 11 starts, the kind of all-around production that elevated his draft profile. In 2021, he was named team captain and broke the all-time record for most games played by a Notre Dame player, cementing his legacy within the program. He graduated following the 2021 season with All-Conference honors, finishing his college career with 61 games played, 35 starts, 81 tackles, 7.5 sacks, 20 tackles-for-loss, and one forced fumble.
Kurt Hinish Career
Early Career (2022)
After going unselected in the 2022 NFL Draft, Hinish signed with the Houston Texans as an undrafted free agent. He began his first NFL training camp near the bottom of the Texans’ defensive tackle depth chart, but his work ethic and quick grasp of the playbook allowed him to climb the ranks. By the end of the preseason, he was receiving first-team repetitions, a sign that the coaching staff viewed him as more than a camp body.
He became one of three undrafted rookies to make the Texans’ final roster that year, an unusual feat for a player who entered the league without a draft pedigree. As a rookie, Hinish appeared in 15 games and started three, finishing the season with one sack and 23 total tackles, 11 of which were solo stops. His early production gave Houston a reliable interior presence and laid the foundation for a longer professional career.
Houston Texans Era (2022-Present)
Hinish’s second and third NFL seasons were marked by continued growth and increased responsibility within the Texans’ defensive rotation. In 2023, he continued to serve as a key depth piece along the interior, contributing in both base and sub-packages while maintaining his role on special teams. His ability to occupy blockers and disrupt running lanes made him a valuable asset in short-yardage and goal-line situations.
On August 27, 2024, Hinish was placed on injured reserve, a setback that sidelined him at the start of the regular season. He was activated on October 15 and returned to the field, appearing in 10 games for Houston. In those contests, he logged 12 combined tackles, demonstrating the same steady, assignment-sound play that had defined his earlier contributions.
On March 6, 2025, Hinish re-signed with the Texans on a one-year, $1.8 million contract, a deal that reflected the organization’s confidence in his role within the defensive scheme. The agreement ensured that he would remain in Houston for another season, continuing his career with the only NFL franchise he has known since 2022.
Driving Style and Strengths
Hinish’s game is built on leverage, technique, and positional discipline rather than raw athletic traits. He is most effective as a run-defending interior lineman, where his ability to hold the point of attack and occupy multiple blockers creates opportunities for teammates to make plays. His football intelligence, developed through years of high-level college football at Notre Dame, allows him to diagnose offensive schemes quickly and align defensive responsibilities before the snap.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among the defining moments of Hinish’s career is his standing as one of the few undrafted free agents from his class to make an NFL opening roster and contribute immediately. His 2021 record-breaking games-played mark at Notre Dame remains a program milestone, and his 2025 re-signing with Houston represents a validation of his professionalism and consistency.
Kurt Hinish Career Wins
As a defensive tackle, Kurt Braeden Hinish’s statistical profile centers on tackles, sacks, and disruptive plays rather than wins in the traditional sense. Across his first three NFL seasons with the Houston Texans, he has accumulated regular defensive production and a growing reputation as a reliable interior presence. His career totals through the 2024 season include 47 combined tackles and 1.5 sacks, with additional contributions in tackles-for-loss and pass-rush pressure that do not always show up in basic box scores.
Houston Texans Highlights
Hinish’s rookie season produced his first NFL sack and 23 total tackles across 15 games, including three starts, one of the strongest debuts among undrafted rookies in his class. His 2024 campaign, though interrupted by an injured-reserve stint, still featured 12 combined tackles in 10 games after his midseason return. His 2025 re-signing underscores a continued role within the Texans’ defensive plans.
Other Wins and Performances
At the high school level, Hinish helped Central Catholic post a 15-1 record during his junior year and earned first-team all-state recognition as a senior, honors that stand among his most notable pre-college achievements. His All-Conference selection and team captaincy at Notre Dame in 2021 further highlight a career defined by steady, recognized production at every level.
Kurt Hinish Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Kurt Braeden Hinish grew up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, a region where football is woven into the local identity. He attended Central Catholic High School in the city, an institution with a long athletic tradition, and his development there played a central role in his path toward a college commitment at Notre Dame.
Personal Life
Hinish is identified publicly primarily through his professional football career with the Houston Texans. Detailed information about his immediate family members, marital status, and personal relationships has not been widely published, and he tends to keep his private life separate from his public profile as an NFL player.
2025 Season Performance
Kurt Braeden Hinish entered the 2025 season re-signed with the Houston Texans on a one-year, $1.8 million contract, securing his place on the defensive line after a 2024 campaign cut short by an injured-reserve stint. The deal signaled that the organization viewed him as a continued contributor along the interior, and his return provided depth and experience in the Texans’ defensive tackle rotation.
Coming off an activation in mid-October of the previous season, Hinish was expected to compete for an expanded role in 2025, particularly on early downs and in short-yardage packages where his run-defense skills are most valuable. His familiarity with the Texans’ defensive system and his leadership background as a former Notre Dame captain positioned him as a stabilizing presence in the locker room.
Heading into the season, the outlook for Hinish centered on consistency, health, and the opportunity to build on a career that has already spanned more than three NFL seasons. With the Texans investing in his services for another year, he remained focused on contributing to a defensive front aiming to take the next step in team performance.