Trysten Hill Bio
Trysten Hill is an American professional football defensive tackle who has spent time with several National Football League franchises since entering the league in 2019. Born on March 25, 1998, in Lee, Florida, Hill developed into a physically imposing interior defender and was selected in the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft by the Dallas Cowboys. Standing 6 feet 3 inches tall and weighing approximately 141 kilograms, he has built a career around quickness at the line of scrimmage and the ability to disrupt opposing running and passing games.
After his release from Dallas, Hill continued his professional journey with brief stints on the rosters and practice squads of the Arizona Cardinals, Cleveland Browns, New England Patriots, and Indianapolis Colts. Throughout his career, he has worked primarily as a three-technique defensive tackle, a position that demands both strength and explosiveness against interior offensive linemen.
Early Life and Background
Trysten Hill was raised in the small community of Lee, Florida, located in Madison County in the northern part of the state. He attended Suwannee High School in nearby Live Oak, where he first gained attention as a defensive end. As a junior, he contributed to the team reaching the state semifinals and earned All-area honors for his performance along the defensive line.
During his senior season, Hill helped Suwannee reach the Florida High School Athletic Association 5A regional finals. He was recognized with Florida Class 5A All-State first-team honors and was rated as a three-star recruit by ESPN. His high school production, combined with his size and athletic upside, made him an attractive target for college programs looking for interior defensive line help.
Path to American Football
Hill originally committed to play college football at the Georgia Institute of Technology and later switched his commitment to the University of Virginia before ultimately enrolling at the University of Central Florida. The decision to join the UCF Knights placed him within a program that was rapidly emerging as one of the top Group of Five programs in the country.
During his time at UCF, Hill transitioned from playing defensive end to defensive tackle, a position change that allowed him to leverage his combination of size and quickness against interior blockers. He developed into a key contributor for the Knights and was part of one of the most successful stretches in program history. Following his junior season, he declared for the 2019 NFL Draft, where his combination of physical tools and college production positioned him as a Day 2 prospect.
Trysten Hill Career
Early Career (2019–2020)
Hill was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the second round, 58th overall, of the 2019 NFL Draft. As a rookie, he served as a backup at the three-technique defensive tackle position behind Maliek Collins, appearing in just three games and registering 4 tackles and 3 quarterback pressures in 121 snaps. He was declared inactive for nine games.
In 2020, Hill began the season as a starter after Collins departed in free agency and Gerald McCoy was lost for the season with a torn quadriceps. He posted 14 tackles, one for loss, and 5 quarterback pressures across the first five games. The campaign, however, was marked by a Week 5 ACL tear against the New York Giants, which ended his season and led to his placement on injured reserve.
Dallas Cowboys Breakthrough (2019–2022)
After recovering from his knee injury, Hill was placed on the reserve/physically unable to perform list to begin the 2021 season and was activated in November. He went on to appear in six games, recording 10 tackles, a half sack, and 6 quarterback pressures, while being passed on the depth chart by rookie Osa Odighizuwa.
In 2022, Hill played in the first seven games of the season as a backup before being waived by the Cowboys on November 1, 2022, to make room for the return of Tarell Basham from injury. Across his Dallas tenure, he appeared in a limited number of games while providing depth at defensive tackle.
Arizona Cardinals Era (2022)
On November 2, 2022, Hill was claimed off waivers by the Arizona Cardinals to replace injured defensive tackle Rashard Lawrence. He served as a backup interior defender, appearing in six games and collecting 6 tackles and one sack before being placed on injured reserve on December 28, 2022.
Cleveland Browns Era (2023)
Hill signed a one-year contract with the Cleveland Browns on March 20, 2023. He was released on August 29, 2023, and re-signed to the practice squad before being released from the practice squad on September 26, 2023, without appearing in a regular-season game.
New England Patriots Era (2023–2024)
On October 4, 2023, the New England Patriots signed Hill to their practice squad. He was elevated to the active roster on October 21, 2023, appeared in one game without recording statistics, and reverted to the practice squad two days later. He signed a reserve/future contract on January 8, 2024.
Hill was released by the Patriots on August 28, 2024, and re-signed to the practice squad. He was elevated to the active roster and appeared in two games with no statistics recorded before being released on October 10, 2024.
Indianapolis Colts Era (2024)
On November 18, 2024, Hill signed with the Indianapolis Colts practice squad. He was placed on the practice squad injured list on December 10, 2024, and was released from that list on December 30, 2024.
Driving Style and Strengths
Hill is a three-technique defensive tackle whose game relies on quickness off the snap, leverage, and the ability to split gaps along the interior line. At 6 feet 3 inches and around 141 kilograms, he combines the mass needed to anchor against the run with the lateral mobility required to pursue quarterbacks and running backs. His career arc has been shaped by the challenge of staying healthy and adjusting to varying defensive schemes across multiple teams.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of the most talked-about moments of Hill’s career came during the 2020 Week 3 game against the Seattle Seahawks, when he was fined by the league for two separate hits, including a late helmet-to-helmet contact on quarterback Russell Wilson and a twisting tackle on running back Chris Carson. He was also suspended one game in 2021 after punching Raiders guard John Simpson in a postgame altercation following a Thanksgiving Day loss to the Las Vegas Raiders.
Trysten Hill Career Wins
Trysten Hill’s professional career has not been defined by major individual awards or championship victories at the NFL level. His on-field résumé is built around contributions to defensive rotations, practice squad elevations, and appearances across multiple franchises.
Other Wins & Performances
At the collegiate level, Hill was part of the 2017 UCF Knights team that captured the Colley Matrix national championship and was named Second-team All-American Athletic Conference that season. He finished his college career with 71 tackles and six sacks, including 6 tackles and 2 sacks against the University of Memphis in the American Athletic Conference championship game.
Trysten Hill Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public information about Trysten Hill’s family background is limited. He grew up in Lee, Florida, and attended Suwannee High School in nearby Live Oak, but details about his parents and immediate family have not been widely documented in publicly available sources.
Personal Life
There is limited publicly verified information regarding Trysten Hill’s personal life. He has not been publicly linked to a spouse or children based on the available records, and he tends to keep his private life out of the public eye.
2025 Season Performance
Heading into the 2025 season, Trysten Hill’s most recent NFL activity came with the Indianapolis Colts practice squad late in the 2024 campaign. After being released from the practice squad injured list on December 30, 2024, his immediate football future was uncertain. Whether he lands with a team for the 2025 season will depend on his recovery from injury and interest from clubs in need of interior defensive line depth.
Given his prior experience in multiple defensive schemes across Dallas, Arizona, Cleveland, New England, and Indianapolis, Hill remains a versatile veteran option for teams seeking a three-technique defensive tackle. His familiarity with both starting and backup roles, combined with prior practice squad experience, makes him a potential late-training-camp addition for franchises looking to round out their defensive front.
Should he return to an active roster in 2025, Hill would likely be counted on to provide rotational snaps and serve as a run-stopping presence in sub-package situations. His ability to stay healthy and carve out a defined role will be central to any successful comeback in the coming season.