Troy Hill Bio
Troy Hill (born August 29, 1991) is an American former professional football cornerback who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 10 seasons. He played for the Cincinnati Bengals, New England Patriots, Los Angeles Rams, Cleveland Browns, Carolina Panthers, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Hill played college football for the Oregon Ducks, and currently serves as the head coach for St. Bonaventure High School.
A standout defensive back at the high school level, Hill went undrafted in 2015 before carving out a long professional career as a cornerback. Across a decade in the league, he became known for his playmaking ability, including a 2020 season in which he led the NFL in defensive touchdowns.
Early Life and Background
Troy Hill was born on August 29, 1991, in Ventura, California. He grew up in the same coastal city where he would later return as a coach, attending St. Bonaventure High School in Ventura. At St. Bonaventure, Hill played both defensive back and wide receiver, showcasing the two-way athleticism that would later define his path to professional football.
During his senior season, his team posted an 11–2 record, although those wins were later forfeited after it was determined that Hill had been ineligible. Despite the controversy, Hill earned significant recognition for his play. He was named to the 2009 All-Channel League First-Team Defense, the 2008 Second-Team All-State Junior by CalHiSports.com, the 2007 All-Channel League Second-Team Defense, and the All-CIF-Southern Section Northern Division. He also received a three-star rating from Scout.com and Rivals.com and was ranked as the No. 32 cornerback in the country.
Path to American Football
Coming out of high school as a highly regarded recruit, Hill committed to the University of Oregon, where he joined the Oregon Ducks football program. As a junior at Oregon, Hill was the team’s fifth-leading tackler among defensive backs, finishing the year with 29 tackles, 21 of which were solo, along with four deflected passes. His development as a playmaker in the secondary set the foundation for his professional outlook.
As a senior, Hill finished seventh on the team in tackles with 71. He was named a second-team All-Pac-12 Conference selection and started 14 games, ranking second in the league with a 1.46 passes-defended average and 11th nationally. That same year, Hill was arrested on December 16, 2013, and was suspended from the team after pleading guilty to menacing, though he was later reinstated. While at Oregon, Hill majored in social science.
Troy Hill Career
Early Career (2015)
After going undrafted in the 2015 NFL Draft, Troy Hill signed with the Cincinnati Bengals on May 3, 2015, to a three-year, $1.58 million contract that included a $5,500 signing bonus. He competed throughout training camp for a backup cornerback role against Chris Lewis-Harris, Onterio McCalebb, and Brandon Ghee. After being waived on September 5, Hill was signed to the Bengals’ practice squad the following day. On December 5, he was promoted to the active roster, where head coach Marvin Lewis named him the fourth cornerback on the depth chart.
Hill made his professional regular-season debut on December 6, 2015, recording three solo tackles during a 37–3 win at the Cleveland Browns in Week 13. He went on to collect a season-high three solo tackles in Week 15 against the San Francisco 49ers, but was waived on December 24. The New England Patriots claimed him off waivers on December 25, and he appeared in three games for the Patriots, recording six combined tackles (five solo) before being waived on December 30.
St. Louis / Los Angeles Rams Breakthrough (2015–2020)
On December 31, 2015, the St. Louis Rams claimed Hill off waivers from New England, and he was inactive for the season finale. Following the Rams’ relocation to Los Angeles, Hill competed for a roster spot in training camp. On September 25, 2016, he earned his first career start and collected a season-high 11 solo tackles during a 37–32 win at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 3. He finished the 2016 NFL season with 40 combined tackles (32 solo) and two pass deflections in 12 games and four starts.
Under new head coach Sean McVay, who was hired in January 2017, Hill was suspended for the first two games of the 2017 season for violating the NFL’s Substance Abuse Policy. He started the final three games of the regular season and a wild-card loss to the Atlanta Falcons in place of the injured Kayvon Webster. In 2019, Hill was re-signed to a two-year deal, and he recorded six tackles, a sack, and an interception against the Chicago Bears in Week 11.
The 2020 season marked Hill’s career-defining moment. In Week 2, he intercepted a pass from Carson Wentz to seal a 37–19 win over the Philadelphia Eagles. In Week 12, he recovered a fumble forced by Aaron Donald and returned it 20 yards for a touchdown against the San Francisco 49ers. In Week 13, he intercepted Kyler Murray and returned it 35 yards for a touchdown against the Arizona Cardinals, and in Week 17, he intercepted Chris Streveler and returned it 84 yards for a touchdown. That performance led the NFL in defensive touchdowns for the 2020 season.
Cleveland Browns and Los Angeles Rams Return (2021–2022)
On March 22, 2021, Hill signed a four-year, $24 million contract with the Cleveland Browns. On April 30, 2022, the Browns traded him back to the Los Angeles Rams for a fifth-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. He was placed on injured reserve on September 20, 2022, after suffering a groin injury in Week 2, but was designated to return on October 24 and activated for Week 8. Hill started 12 games for the Rams that season, recording 67 tackles (45 solo) and an interception.
Carolina Panthers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers Era (2023–2024)
On August 20, 2023, Hill signed with the Carolina Panthers. He played in 16 games with three starts, recording 48 tackles, one forced fumble, and a 61-yard interception return for a touchdown. On March 13, 2024, he signed a one-year contract extension with the Panthers and recorded 32 combined tackles in six games (two starts) before being released on October 18, 2024. On October 30, 2024, Hill was signed to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers practice squad and promoted to the active roster on November 18, 2024.
Driving Style and Strengths
Although Hill played defense rather than drove a vehicle professionally, his on-field strengths as a cornerback included sharp man-coverage skills, the ability to make plays on the ball, and a nose for the end zone. His 2020 season showcased his range as a defender, with multiple interceptions and fumble returns that highlighted his instincts and finishing ability.
Notable Events and Milestones
Hill’s most memorable NFL stretch came in 2020, when he led the league in defensive touchdowns. He recorded three pick-sixes and a fumble return touchdown across that season, becoming a key playmaker for the Rams’ secondary. He also earned Second-Team All-Pac-12 honors during his senior year at Oregon and later returned to his high school alma mater as head coach in 2025.
Troy Hill Career Wins
Across his 10 NFL seasons, Troy Hill established himself as a reliable cornerback and playmaker. He appeared in regular-season games for six different franchises and contributed to multiple winning efforts, including a 37–3 win over the Cleveland Browns in his debut, a 37–32 win at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in his first career start, and a 38–28 win over the Arizona Cardinals in Week 13 of 2020.
NFL Highlights
Hill’s 2020 season stood out as the high point of his career. He led the NFL in defensive touchdowns that year, recording interceptions against the Philadelphia Eagles, the Arizona Cardinals (twice), and a fumble recovery touchdown against the San Francisco 49ers. He also contributed a regular-season win over the Chicago Bears in 2019 with a sack and an interception in a 17–7 victory.
Other Wins & Performances
In his early career, Hill helped the Cincinnati Bengals defeat the Cleveland Browns 37–3 in his debut and the San Francisco 49ers 24–14 in Week 15 of the 2015 season. With the Los Angeles Rams, he contributed to a Week 3 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2016 and helped the team clinch multiple victories in 2020.
Troy Hill Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public information about Troy Hill’s parents and family background is limited. He grew up in Ventura, California, and attended St. Bonaventure High School, where he developed into a top-rated high school cornerback recruit.
Personal Life
While at the University of Oregon, Hill majored in social science. On November 19, 2016, Hill was arrested by the California Highway Patrol for suspicion of drunk driving after swerving into a semi-trailer truck on U.S. Route 101. He was booked and later released after posting $15,000 bail. On May 13, 2025, Hill was hired to serve as the head football coach at his alma mater, St. Bonaventure High School.
2025 Season Performance
Troy Hill’s 2025 season represents a transition from active player to coach. After completing his 10th NFL season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2024, Hill did not return to the field for the 2025 campaign. Instead, he shifted his focus to the next phase of his football career.
On May 13, 2025, Hill was hired to serve as the head football coach at St. Bonaventure High School in Ventura, California. The move marked a return to his roots, as Hill had previously starred at the school as a two-way player before going on to play at Oregon and in the NFL. His appointment was widely viewed as a full-circle moment for a coach who had spent the past decade learning from NFL coaching staffs in Cincinnati, New England, Los Angeles, Cleveland, Carolina, and Tampa Bay.
Looking ahead, Hill’s outlook centers on building a competitive program at St. Bonaventure while drawing on the lessons he picked up under head coaches like Marvin Lewis, Jeff Fisher, and Sean McVay. Although he is no longer an active NFL player, Hill’s transition to coaching suggests his football story is entering an exciting new chapter.