Casey Toohill Bio
Casey Joseph Toohill is an American professional football defensive end in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Stanford Cardinal from 2015 to 2019 and was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles in the seventh round of the 2020 NFL draft. Standing 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) and listed at 254 lb (115 kg), Toohill has built a career as a rotational pass rusher and edge defender. He has also spent time with the Washington Commanders and the Buffalo Bills, and most recently signed with the Houston Texans in March 2025.
During his college career, Toohill earned second-team All-Pac-12 honors and finished his final season with 11.5 tackles for loss and eight sacks. Over five college seasons he recorded 124 tackles, 21.5 tackles for loss, 14 sacks, and one interception. Since entering the NFL in 2020, he has contributed on defense and special teams, accumulating 100 total tackles, 8 sacks, 3 pass deflections, 4 fumble recoveries, and 1 defensive touchdown through the 2024 season.
Early Life and Background
Casey Joseph Toohill was born on August 22, 1996, in San Diego, California. He grew up in the San Diego area and attended Cathedral Catholic High School, where he developed as a multi-sport athlete. His size and athleticism helped him stand out along the defensive line during his prep years.
Coming out of high school, Toohill was rated as a three-star recruit by national scouting services. He received college scholarship offers from several programs, including Boston College, Nevada, Utah, Washington, and Washington State. He ultimately chose Stanford, drawn by the program’s combination of academic rigor and Pac-12 football tradition.
Path to American Football
Toohill arrived at Stanford in 2015 and spent five seasons working his way up the Cardinal defensive line. He appeared in games across his first four years while learning behind more experienced edge rushers, gradually adding strength to his tall frame. By his senior season, he had earned a starting role and became a focal point of the Stanford front seven.
As a fifth-year senior in 2019, Toohill started all 12 games and produced one of the most productive seasons of his career. He recorded 60 tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss, and 8 sacks, performances that earned him second-team All-Pac-12 recognition. Those numbers, paired with his prototypical NFL frame, pushed him onto professional scouting boards heading into the 2020 draft.
Casey Toohill Career
Early Career (2020)
The Philadelphia Eagles selected Casey Toohill in the seventh round, 233rd overall, of the 2020 NFL draft. He signed with the team and joined a defensive end group that included established veterans. His initial role focused on special teams and rotational snaps along the edge.
Toohill was waived by the Eagles on October 13, 2020, after the early stages of his rookie season. The transaction came during a period of heavy roster turnover across the league, and he quickly drew interest from other teams in need of defensive line depth.
Washington Football Team / Commanders Breakthrough (2020–2023)
On October 14, 2020, the Washington Football Team claimed Toohill off waivers, beginning the longest and most productive stop of his career to date. He worked primarily as a rotational defensive end while contributing on special teams. During the 2020 and 2021 seasons, he appeared in games on both sides of the ball as a depth piece behind starters.
In Week 6 of the 2021 season, Toohill recorded his first career NFL sack, bringing down Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes. That November, he made his first career start in Week 11 against the Carolina Panthers, stepping in for Chase Young, who had been placed on injured reserve. He later dealt with a stint on the COVID-19 reserve list in December 2021, forcing him to sit out a Week 14 matchup against the Dallas Cowboys before being reactivated.
Toohill produced one of the signature moments of his career in Week 10 of the 2022 season, when he scored his first career touchdown against the previously undefeated Philadelphia Eagles. He recovered a failed lateral pass from Eagles receiver DeVonta Smith and returned it one yard for a score on the final play of the game. The following season, he was elevated into Washington’s starting lineup in Week 9 of 2023 after the team traded both of its original starting defensive ends, Chase Young and Montez Sweat.
Buffalo Bills Era (2024)
On March 19, 2024, Toohill signed a one-year contract with the Buffalo Bills, beginning a new chapter in free agency. He joined a Bills defense that emphasized pressure up front and quickly earned rotational snaps at defensive end.
Across 13 games in 2024, Toohill logged one sack, one pass deflection, and 14 total tackles for Buffalo. He was released by the Bills on December 17 before being re-signed to the team’s practice squad two days later, allowing him to finish the season within the organization.
Houston Texans (2025)
On March 14, 2025, Toohill signed with the Houston Texans, seeking to revive his career on a new defensive line. He participated in offseason activities and training camp with the team before reaching final roster cuts.
Toohill was released by the Texans on August 26, 2025, as part of league-wide final reductions to reach the 53-man limit. He entered the 2025 season as a free agent following his release.
Driving Style and Strengths
Toohill uses his 6 ft 5 in frame to set a wide edge and disrupt passing lanes, with length that helps him bat down balls at the line of scrimmage. His college production, including 14 career sacks at Stanford, suggests a developed ability to convert speed to power against offensive tackles. At the NFL level, he has shown enough versatility to play both defensive end spots and contribute on special teams coverage units.
Notable Events and Milestones
His first career sack against Patrick Mahomes in 2021 announced his arrival as a pass rusher, while his 2022 fumble recovery touchdown sealed a dramatic upset of the undefeated Philadelphia Eagles. He has also logged 100 career tackles and 8 career sacks across multiple franchises, milestones reached by the end of the 2024 season.
Casey Toohill Career Wins
Casey Joseph Toohill has built a professional resume defined more by steady contributions than headline wins. His career milestones include a first NFL sack against Patrick Mahomes in 2021, a game-clinching touchdown against the previously undefeated Philadelphia Eagles in 2022, and a transition into a starting role with the Washington Commanders in 2023.
NFL Highlights
Toohill’s most memorable individual highlight came on the final play of a 2022 victory over Philadelphia, when his fumble recovery touchdown ended an undefeated run by the Eagles. He also earned first-team recognition at the college level with second-team All-Pac-12 honors in 2019 after an 8-sack senior season at Stanford.
Other Wins and Performances
Beyond individual milestones, Toohill has contributed to team victories through situational defense and special teams play across the Eagles, Washington, Bills, and Texans organizations. His willingness to accept rotational roles has kept him in the league since 2020.
Casey Toohill Family
Family Background and Football Lineage
Casey Joseph Toohill grew up in San Diego, California, where he attended Cathedral Catholic High School. He has not been publicly linked to a well-known football lineage, and details about his parents or siblings have not been widely reported.
Personal Life
Toohill’s documented personal life has centered on his football career since 2020, with verified public details limited to his San Diego upbringing and Cathedral Catholic education. He maintains a public Instagram presence under the handle c2hill, where he shares updates from his professional journey.
2025 Season Performance
Toohill entered the 2025 NFL calendar as a member of the Houston Texans after signing with the club on March 14, 2025. He took part in the team’s offseason program and training camp as part of a defensive end group competing for roster spots. The Texans released him on August 26, 2025, during final roster cuts, leaving him available as a free agent at the start of the regular season.
His 2025 outlook now depends on finding a roster fit with another team in need of edge depth or special teams help. Given his track record of carving out roles on multiple defenses, including his 2024 production with Buffalo, Toohill remained a candidate for practice squad or active roster opportunities around the league. His mix of size, length, and experience in multiple defensive systems has kept him in demand since 2020.
Should he land with another organization during the 2025 season, Toohill’s path forward is likely to mirror his previous stops, focusing on rotational snaps, special teams contributions, and the occasional pass-rushing opportunity. His career arc to this point reflects persistence, versatility, and the ability to capitalize on chances when injuries or trades open doors along the defensive line.