Daxton Hill Bio
Daxton Jor-El Hill (born September 29, 2000) is an American professional football cornerback for the Cincinnati Bengals of the National Football League (NFL). Standing 6 feet 0 inches tall and weighing around 195 pounds, Hill plays a versatile role in the secondary, lining up at both safety and cornerback during his young NFL career. He played college football for the Michigan Wolverines, where he earned first-team All-Big Ten honors in 2021. The Cincinnati Bengals selected him in the first round of the 2022 NFL draft.
Originally recruited as a five-star prospect from Tulsa, Oklahoma, Hill has already been described as a flexible defender because of his experience at free safety and cornerback. His rookie contract, signed in May 2022, runs through the 2025 season and is fully guaranteed at signing. In April 2025, the Bengals picked up his fifth-year option, keeping him under contract in Cincinnati through the 2026 season.
Early Life and Background
Hill was born on September 29, 2000, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where he grew up and developed into one of the most decorated high school football players in the state. He attended Booker T. Washington High School in Tulsa, finishing his high school career as a five-star recruit ranked among the top defensive backs in the country. His brother, Justice Hill, played running back for the Oklahoma State Cowboys and was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in the fourth round of the 2019 NFL draft, giving Daxton a clear family tie to professional football.
As a senior in 2019, Hill was named the Gatorade Football Player of the Year for Oklahoma, one of the most prestigious individual awards in American high school sports. He also played in the 2019 U.S. Army All-American Game, an annual showcase that features the top high school seniors in the nation. Hill’s middle name, Jor-El, was taken from the comic book character of the same name, a detail he has shared in interviews.
Path to American Football
Hill’s path to college football included a brief commitment switch that showed how highly he was recruited. A five-star prospect, he originally committed to the University of Michigan before briefly flipping to the University of Alabama, then returning to Michigan. That recruiting saga placed him on the national radar well before he played his first college snap.
At Booker T. Washington, Hill developed the cover skills and tackling ability that would later make him a first-round NFL draft pick. He arrived at Michigan as one of the highest-rated defensive backs in the 2019 class and quickly earned a role in the Wolverines’ secondary, finishing his freshman year with 36 tackles and one interception in 13 games. His early production set up a three-year college career that ended with first-team All-Big Ten recognition.
Daxton Hill Career
Early Career (2019–2021, Michigan Wolverines)
Hill began his college career as a true freshman at Michigan in 2019, playing in 13 games with three starts and recording 36 tackles and one interception. His ability to contribute right away showed that the Wolverines’ coaching staff trusted him in a variety of coverage and run-support situations. He finished that season as one of the most promising young defensive backs in the Big Ten.
As a sophomore in 2020, Hill started six games and finished with 46 tackles and one interception, showing steady improvement in his second year. He returned to Michigan as a full-time starter in 2021 and received first-team All-Big Ten honors, the highest individual recognition in the conference for a defensive back. Following the 2021 season, Hill declared for the 2022 NFL draft, ending his college career after three seasons in Ann Arbor.
Cincinnati Bengals Era (2022–Present)
The Cincinnati Bengals selected Hill in the first round (31st overall) of the 2022 NFL draft, making him the second safety drafted that year behind Kyle Hamilton. On May 18, 2022, the Bengals signed Hill to a four-year, $11.66 million contract that included a $5.66 million signing bonus and was fully guaranteed at signing. Bengals defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo eased him into his rookie year, having him back up Jessie Bates at free safety while also working as a gunner on special teams alongside Stanley Morgan.
In Week 15 of the 2022 season against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Hill made his first career start at nickelback after injuries to Mike Hilton and Jalen Davis. He finished that game with five solo tackles and three assisted tackles, showing the positional flexibility that has become a trademark of his early NFL career.
2023 Season (Starting Free Safety)
In his second NFL season, Hill was named the starting free safety, a clear sign that the Bengals viewed him as a foundational piece of their secondary. During the Bengals’ Week 1 loss to the Cleveland Browns, Hill recorded his first career interception, picking off a pass from quarterback Deshaun Watson. The performance was an early sign that his expanded role would translate into more production on the ball.
Hill set a career high in tackles in Week 2 against the Baltimore Ravens, recording 12 total tackles, nine of which were solo stops against the run. His first career sack came in Week 3 against the Los Angeles Rams, and he added a half-sack in Week 5 against the Arizona Cardinals, showing that he could affect the quarterback as well as defend the pass. By the end of 2023, Hill had clearly established himself as one of the most important young players on the Cincinnati defense.
2024 Season (Move to Cornerback)
Entering his third NFL season, the Bengals announced that Hill would be converting from safety to cornerback, a significant positional change for a player still early in his pro career. Following the 2024 preseason, Cincinnati announced that Hill had beaten out DJ Turner for the starting cornerback role, a strong endorsement of his athletic profile and ability to adjust to a new position. The move was meant to take advantage of his cover skills and length on the outside.
Hill’s 2024 season was cut short in Week 5 when he suffered a torn ACL, and he was placed on season-ending injured reserve on October 8, 2024. The injury was a major setback in his development, but the Bengals remained committed to him as a long-term piece of their defense.
Driving Style and Strengths
Hill’s biggest strength as a defensive back is his positional flexibility. He has the instincts and range of a free safety, the physicality to support the run, and the coverage skills to play cornerback in nickel or outside packages. His experience under coordinator Lou Anarumo, a respected defensive mind, has helped him develop a smart, assignment-sound style of play. Hill is also a willing special teams contributor, which has earned him the trust of his coaching staff.
Notable Events and Milestones
Hill’s career is already full of milestones for a player who entered the league in 2022. He was a first-round NFL draft pick, a Gatorade state Player of the Year in Oklahoma, a U.S. Army All-American, and a first-team All-Big Ten selection. He has also recorded his first career interception and first career sack, marking the kind of statistical firsts that signal a player is finding his footing in the NFL.
Daxton Hill Career Stats
Through the 2025 NFL season, Hill has appeared in regular-season games for the Cincinnati Bengals at safety and cornerback, recording 239 total tackles, 2.5 sacks, 24 pass deflections, and 3 interceptions. Those totals reflect his role as a full-time starter and a key member of Cincinnati’s secondary.
Cincinnati Bengals Highlights
Hill’s Bengals career began with a Week 15 start at nickelback in 2022, followed by a full season as the starting free safety in 2023, when he recorded his first career interception and first career sack. In 2024, he transitioned to starting cornerback before a torn ACL ended his season in Week 5. On April 30, 2025, the Bengals exercised the fifth-year option on Hill’s contract, locking him in for the 2026 season.
Other Performances
Before the NFL, Hill starred at Booker T. Washington High School, where he was the Gatorade Football Player of the Year for Oklahoma in 2019 and played in the U.S. Army All-American Game. At Michigan, he earned first-team All-Big Ten honors in 2021, the highest individual recognition he received in college.
Daxton Hill Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Hill comes from a football family. His brother, Justice Hill, played running back for the Oklahoma State Cowboys and was selected by the Baltimore Ravens in the fourth round of the 2019 NFL draft. The two brothers both made it to the NFL, an unusual achievement that reflects the athletic background of their family in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Personal Life
Hill’s middle name, Jor-El, was inspired by the comic book character of the same name, a personal detail he has discussed publicly. Outside of football, he is known as a quiet, family-oriented player who has remained focused on his development in Cincinnati. He continues to be recognized as one of the young core pieces of the Bengals’ defense.
2025 Season Performance
Hill’s 2025 season is expected to be his first full year as a starting cornerback after his 2024 ACL injury. The Bengals’ decision to pick up his fifth-year option on April 30, 2025, signals that the organization still views him as a long-term answer at the position. He is scheduled to earn $12,682,000 for the 2026 season, reflecting the team’s confidence in his recovery and upside.
Coming off a major knee injury, Hill’s primary goal will be to stay healthy and re-establish himself as a playmaker in the secondary. His career totals of 239 tackles, 24 pass deflections, and 3 interceptions give him a foundation to build on as he returns to the field. Bengals defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo is expected to use Hill in a variety of roles, taking advantage of his experience at both safety and cornerback.
If Hill can stay on the field and produce at the level he showed in 2023, when he started every game at free safety and set a career high in tackles, he has a chance to be one of the breakout defenders of 2025. The Bengals have built their defense around versatile secondary pieces, and Hill remains one of the most flexible options in that group.