Maurice Hurst Bio
Maurice Roy Hurst Jr. (born May 9, 1995) is an American professional football defensive tackle for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League (NFL). He first gained national recognition as a consensus All-American at the University of Michigan before being selected by the Oakland Raiders in the fifth round of the 2018 NFL Draft. Over the course of his career, he has played for the Oakland/Las Vegas Raiders, the San Francisco 49ers, and the Browns, building a reputation as a disruptive interior defender.
Standing 6 feet 2 inches tall and playing at around 132 kilograms, Hurst combines size with quickness off the snap. His journey from a standout high school player in Massachusetts to a multi-team NFL veteran reflects both his on-field talent and his ability to persevere through injuries and roster changes.
Early Life and Background
Maurice Roy Hurst Jr. was born on May 9, 1995, in Canton, Massachusetts, and was raised there by his mother, Nicole Page. He is the son of former New England Patriot Maurice Hurst, which gave him an early connection to professional football. Growing up in a household shaped by the sport, he was introduced to the fundamentals of the game from a young age, often drawing on his father’s experience as a player.
Hurst attended Xaverian Brothers High School in Westwood, Massachusetts, where he quickly established himself on the gridiron. He played on the varsity team as a freshman and became a three-year starter, earning two consecutive first-team all-state selections in Massachusetts during the 2011 and 2012 seasons. His high school résumé also included an invitation to the 2013 Semper Fidelis All-American Bowl, one of the prominent high school all-star games in the country.
By the time he graduated, Hurst had cemented his status as one of the top defensive line recruits in the Northeast, and his combination of strength, leverage, and technique drew attention from several major college programs.
Path to American Football
Coming out of Xaverian Brothers, Hurst was a sought-after recruit who ultimately committed to the University of Michigan, joining one of the most storied programs in college football. He was seen as a developmental interior defensive lineman with the frame and motor to grow into a high-impact college player. At Michigan, he was placed in a defensive scheme that asked its tackles to play with discipline and explosiveness at the line of scrimmage.
Hurst earned his first varsity letter in 2014, appearing in seven games as a true freshman and adjusting to the speed of the college game. As he added strength and refined his technique, his role within the defensive line rotation steadily increased, and he became a fixture in the Wolverines’ front seven.
His trajectory pointed toward the NFL from an early stage, with scouts and analysts tracking his progress in Ann Arbor. By his junior season, he had emerged as one of the most disruptive interior defenders in the Big Ten Conference, setting the stage for a defining final year at Michigan and a leap into professional football.
Maurice Hurst Career
Early Career (2018–2019)
Hurst was selected by the Oakland Raiders in the fifth round, 140th overall, of the 2018 NFL Draft, despite having been projected by many analysts as a top-five to mid-first-round pick. A heart condition discovered at the NFL Combine kept him out of on-field drills and caused his draft stock to fall, but he was cleared to participate at Michigan’s pro day and was ultimately deemed healthy enough to play.
In his rookie season with the Raiders, Hurst wasted little time making an impact at defensive tackle. He recorded his first career sack in Week 2 against the Denver Broncos, added sacks against the Cleveland Browns, the Los Angeles Chargers, and the Arizona Cardinals, and posted an overall Pro Football Focus grade of 72.4, which ranked 46th among qualifying interior defenders. In 2019, he continued to develop, recording multiple sacks, recovering fumbles against the Detroit Lions and Cincinnati Bengals, and notching his first career interception off Tennessee Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill, which he returned 55 yards.
Oakland / Las Vegas Raiders Breakthrough (2018–2020)
Hurst’s three-year tenure with the Oakland/Las Vegas Raiders served as his introduction to the NFL and laid the foundation for his professional career. As a rotational interior defender, he provided pressure from the inside while learning to handle the physical demands of pro-style offensive lines. His rookie-year flashes, including a strip-sack of Baker Mayfield in a wild 45–42 overtime win over the Browns, suggested the kind of disruption he could provide when healthy.
Across his Raiders seasons, Hurst showed the versatility to rush the passer, defend the run, and occasionally drop into coverage. His 2019 campaign highlighted his playmaking range, with multiple fumble recoveries and a career-first interception. The 2020 season, however, was disrupted when he was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list in early October and later activated. After the season concluded, the Raiders waived him on April 15, 2021, opening the door for the next chapter of his career.
San Francisco 49ers Era (2021–2022)
On April 23, 2021, Hurst signed a one-year contract with the San Francisco 49ers, joining a defensive line known for its depth and physicality. He was placed on injured reserve on September 1, 2021, but was activated on October 2 and contributed to the 49ers’ defensive rotation for the remainder of the season.
Hurst re-signed with the 49ers on March 10, 2022, and was briefly released and re-signed on a one-year deal the same day on April 11. Unfortunately, a torn bicep landed him on injured reserve on August 1, 2022, ending his season before it truly began. Despite the injury setbacks, his time in San Francisco reinforced his reputation as a reliable veteran presence on the interior.
Cleveland Browns Era (2023–Present)
On March 18, 2023, Hurst signed a one-year contract with the Cleveland Browns, beginning his current chapter in the NFL. In his first season with the team, he appeared in 13 games and recorded 22 tackles, 1.5 sacks, three passes defensed, and an interception, offering steady production along the defensive front.
Hurst re-signed with the Browns on March 15, 2024, continuing his role in the team’s defensive line rotation. He suffered an ankle injury in Week 1 and was placed on injured reserve on September 11, 2024, before being activated on October 12. On December 10, 2025, he was signed to Cleveland’s practice squad, where he remained as the season wound down.
Driving Style and Strengths
As an interior defensive tackle, Hurst relies on a blend of explosive first-step quickness, strong hands, and leverage at the point of attack. He is most effective on passing downs, where his ability to disrupt the pocket complements edge rushers and forces quarterbacks off their spots. His football intelligence and motor allow him to pursue plays laterally and contribute against the run, even when double-teamed.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of the defining early moments of Hurst’s career came during the 2018 draft process, when a heart condition discovered at the NFL Combine dropped him from projected first-round status to the fifth round. His subsequent first career sack against the Denver Broncos, his 55-yard interception return off Ryan Tannehill in 2019, and his first interception as a Brown stand out as signature plays that reflect both his resilience and his playmaking ability.
Maurice Hurst Career Wins
While defensive tackles are not typically judged by win totals in the same way as drivers or quarterbacks, Hurst’s career has been measured by disruptive plays, sacks, tackles for loss, and postseason contributions. Across his time with the Raiders, 49ers, and Browns, he has consistently delivered production as a rotational interior defender.
Team Highlights
Hurst’s first career sack came in Week 2 of the 2018 season against the Denver Broncos, a milestone that announced his arrival in the NFL. With the Cleveland Browns in 2023, he added an interception and 1.5 sacks to his ledger, demonstrating his continued ability to affect the passing game. He has also been a key part of defenses that made playoff runs, including the 49ers’ deep postseason push during his time in San Francisco.
Other Performances
At the University of Michigan, Hurst was a consensus All-American and a first-team All-Big Ten selection in 2017, when he set a career high with 59 tackles and ranked sixth in the conference with 13.5 tackles for loss. His college accolades established him as one of the premier interior defensive linemen in the country.
Maurice Hurst Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Maurice Roy Hurst Jr. comes from a family with direct ties to professional football. His father, Maurice Hurst, played as a defensive lineman for the New England Patriots, giving his son a unique window into the demands of an NFL career from an early age. Hurst was raised primarily by his mother, Nicole Page, in Canton, Massachusetts.
Personal Life
Hurst grew up in Canton, Massachusetts, where his family ties to the New England Patriots influenced his path into football. He has continued to pursue his professional career while maintaining his roots in the region where he was raised.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season brought another chapter of resilience for Maurice Hurst. After re-signing with the Cleveland Browns in March 2024, he suffered an ankle injury in Week 1 and was placed on injured reserve on September 11, 2024, before being activated on October 12 and returning to the field for the rest of the campaign.
On December 10, 2025, Hurst was signed to Cleveland’s practice squad, a move that reflected both the team’s continued belief in his ability and the realities of managing a roster late in the season. His experience and knowledge of the Browns’ defensive system made him a valuable veteran presence on the practice field.
Looking ahead, Hurst’s familiarity with the Browns’ scheme and his track record of bouncing back from injury position him as a candidate to once again contribute along the interior defensive line. His career, marked by perseverance through health setbacks and roster turnover, continues to reflect the determination that has defined his journey from Canton to the NFL.