Troy Hairston II Bio
Troy Hairston II, born on December 8, 1998, in Detroit, Michigan, is an American professional football fullback. He played college football for the Central Michigan Chippewas as a linebacker and defensive end before launching his National Football League career. After going unselected in the 2022 NFL draft, Hairston signed with the Houston Texans as an undrafted free agent and later joined the Cleveland Browns in 2025.
Early Life and Background
Troy Hairston II was born on December 8, 1998, in Detroit, Michigan. He is of Panamanian descent through his mother, a heritage that has shaped his family identity. Hairston attended Seaholm High School, where he developed into a promising football prospect and earned attention for his work on the defensive side of the ball.
His high school performances drew interest from college programs, and he ultimately committed to Central Michigan University. The decision to join the Chippewas gave him the opportunity to play in the Mid-American Conference, a competitive level that allowed him to showcase his skills against a steady slate of opponents.
Path to Professional Football
Hairston arrived at Central Michigan in 2017 and joined the football team the following year. In 2018, his first year on the squad, he appeared in 11 games and recorded five tackles, four of which were solo stops. The following season, in 2019, he played in all 14 games, started two, and posted 28 tackles with 15 solo, adding 5 tackles for loss and 2 quarterback sacks along with 2 quarterback hurries. Against Western Michigan that year, he was named a game captain, an early sign of his growing leadership profile.
In 2020, Hairston emerged as one of the top defenders in the Mid-American Conference, earning co-Defensive Player of the Year honors after leading the conference with 5.5 sacks and 12 tackles for loss. He was named to the All-MAC first team by Phil Steele and to the third team by Pro Football Focus. In 2021, he started all 13 games and led the Chippewas with 17 tackles for loss and 9 sacks, ranking 13th nationally in tackles for loss while placing fifth on the team with 55 total tackles. He earned All-MAC first-team recognition for a second consecutive year, cementing his status as a draft-eligible prospect.
Troy Hairston II Career
Houston Texans Era (2022–2024)
After going unselected in the 2022 NFL draft, Troy Hairston II signed with the Houston Texans as an undrafted free agent. During training camp, he transitioned from his college position on defense to fullback on offense, beating out veteran Andy Janovich to earn a spot on the Texans’ 53-man roster. He was one of only three undrafted free agents to make Houston’s opening roster in 2022, a notable achievement for a player who had spent his entire college career on the other side of the ball.
On August 1, 2023, Hairston was placed on injured reserve after suffering a herniated disc, an injury that sidelined him for an extended stretch. He returned to the organization in 2024 but was released by the Texans on August 27, 2024, before being re-signed to the practice squad later that year, keeping him within the Houston system as he worked to reestablish himself at fullback.
Cleveland Browns Era (2025)
On January 28, 2025, Troy Hairston II signed a reserve/future contract with the Cleveland Browns, opening a new chapter in his professional career. The move offered him a fresh opportunity to compete for a roster spot heading into the 2025 NFL season. On August 3, 2025, however, Hairston was waived by the Browns, ending his time on their roster at that point in the calendar.
Driving Style and Strengths
Although his primary assignments now come on offense, Hairston’s defensive background continues to influence his approach as a fullback. His college production as a pass rusher, including 14.5 sacks across his final two seasons at Central Michigan, reflects the kind of leverage, pad level, and closing burst that translate naturally to lead-blocking at the NFL level. His experience reading offensive line combinations, honed from the defensive side, gives him an unusual understanding of leverage angles and blitz pickups, which can be an asset in protection schemes.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of the defining moments of Troy Hairston II’s career came during his 2020 season at Central Michigan, when he earned Mid-American Conference co-Defensive Player of the Year honors and led the conference in both sacks and tackles for loss. In the NFL, his most notable milestone was beating out veteran Andy Janovich to make the Houston Texans’ 53-man roster in 2022 as an undrafted free agent, a rare achievement for a player switching positions at the professional level.
Troy Hairston II Career Highlights
Across his college and professional career, Troy Hairston II has compiled a résumé that reflects both defensive production and positional versatility. He earned All-MAC first-team honors in 2020 and 2021 and was recognized as co-Defensive Player of the Year in the Mid-American Conference in 2020. At the professional level, his breakthrough came in 2022 when he carved out a roster spot with the Houston Texans after switching from defense to fullback.
Central Michigan Highlights
During his time with the Central Michigan Chippewas, Troy Hairston II developed into one of the conference’s most disruptive defenders. He finished his career with 5.5 sacks and 12 tackles for loss in 2020 and followed that with 9 sacks and 17 tackles for loss in 2021, ranking 13th nationally in tackles for loss in his final college season. He earned first-team All-MAC recognition in both 2020 and 2021, a rare back-to-back distinction for a Chippewas defender.
Other Performances
Troy Hairston II’s professional career remains in its early chapters. His most notable NFL accomplishment to date is making the Houston Texans’ 53-man roster in 2022 as an undrafted free agent, an outcome that confirmed his ability to adapt to a new position at the highest level.
Troy Hairston II Family
Family Background and Lineage
Troy Hairston II was raised in Detroit, Michigan, in a family with Panamanian roots through his mother. That heritage has remained part of his personal identity and was referenced in early biographical accounts of his upbringing and football journey.
Personal Life
Public information about Troy Hairston II’s personal life beyond his family heritage and hometown remains limited. He attended Seaholm High School in the Detroit area before committing to Central Michigan University, where he continued to build his football career.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season marked a new start for Troy Hairston II after he signed a reserve/future contract with the Cleveland Browns on January 28, 2025. The agreement gave him a chance to compete for a role in the Browns’ offensive scheme heading into training camp. It was an opportunity to refresh his professional path after three seasons within the Houston Texans organization.
Hairston’s time with the Browns in 2025 concluded on August 3, 2025, when he was waived by the team. The release did not erase the broader storyline of his 2025, which included a notable offseason signing and a chance to compete at the NFL level for a fourth professional year.
Looking ahead, Troy Hairston II’s experience as a former linebacker and defensive end who successfully transitioned to fullback gives him a distinctive profile among undrafted free agents. His combination of college accolades, positional flexibility, and perseverance through injury and roster turnover leaves him with continued options as he pursues the next opportunity in his professional football career.