Neville Hewitt Bio
Neville Hewitt (born April 6, 1993) is an American professional football linebacker. He has spent a decade in the National Football League (NFL) as an undrafted player who built his career through special teams play, defensive rotation, and starting linebacker duties. Hewitt currently plays for the New York Giants, where he signed in 2025. Over the course of his NFL journey he has appeared for the Miami Dolphins, the New York Jets, and the Houston Texans, establishing himself as a durable and dependable defender.
Standing 6 feet 2 inches tall and listed at 235 pounds, Hewitt has logged more than 500 career tackles and is widely respected for his preparation and football intelligence. He played his college football for the Marshall Thundering Herd, where he starred as both a safety and a linebacker. His professional path is a textbook example of perseverance for undrafted prospects.
Early Life and Background
Neville Hewitt was born on April 6, 1993, in Silver Spring, Maryland. He grew up in the greater Washington, D.C., area before his family later settled in Georgia. His early athletic development took place there, and he attended Rockdale County High School in Conyers, Georgia. Hewitt was not heavily recruited as a high school senior, but he drew attention from several junior college programs thanks to his combination of size, speed, and physicality.
Coming out of high school, Hewitt was regarded as a promising athlete who needed additional seasoning before competing at the highest collegiate level. His path to college football was unconventional, beginning at a military-style junior college program that emphasized discipline, structure, and fundamentals. Those early experiences helped shape his approach to the game and laid the groundwork for his later success at the Football Bowl Subdivision level.
Path to American Football
After high school, Neville Hewitt began his college football career at Georgia Military College, a junior college program located in Milledgeville, Georgia. He spent two seasons there refining his technique at the safety and linebacker positions. In his 2012 campaign, he recorded 65 tackles, five tackles for loss, and five pass breakups, numbers that quickly attracted interest from four-year programs around the country.
Hewitt transferred to Marshall University in 2013, joining the Thundering Herd of Conference USA. Over his two seasons in Huntington, West Virginia, he posted 208 tackles, including 16.5 for loss and 7.5 sacks, along with two interceptions, four pass breakups, two fumble recoveries, and one forced fumble. His breakout 2014 season earned him Conference USA Defensive Player of the Year honors, cementing his status as one of the top defensive players in the conference and drawing attention from NFL scouts.
Neville Hewitt Career
Early Career (2015–2017)
Although he went unselected in the 2015 NFL Draft, Neville Hewitt signed with the Miami Dolphins as an undrafted free agent on May 2, 2015. He made his NFL debut on September 13 against the Washington Redskins and earned his first career start on November 22 against the Dallas Cowboys, recording his first career interception in that game. He closed his rookie year with 39 tackles and one interception.
In his second season, Hewitt continued to expand his role with the Dolphins. He recorded his first career fumble recovery on December 4, 2016, against the Baltimore Ravens, and notched his first career sack on December 17 against the New York Jets. He later set a career high with nine tackles against the Buffalo Bills. The Dolphins waived him at the start of the 2017 season, but he returned to the practice squad in October and was promoted to the active roster in November.
Miami Dolphins Breakthrough (2015–2017)
Hewitt’s tenure with the Miami Dolphins laid the foundation for his NFL career. After arriving as an undrafted rookie, he quickly proved capable of contributing on defense and special teams. Across his three seasons with the Dolphins, he appeared in multiple games, registered his first interception, first sack, and first fumble recovery, and gained valuable experience in a defensive scheme that demanded versatility.
His growth in Miami did not go unnoticed by other teams, and although he was briefly waived in 2017, his development during those early years made him an attractive option on the open market. The experience he gained playing in pass-heavy AFC East environments prepared him well for the challenges that lay ahead.
New York Jets Era (2018–2020)
On March 28, 2018, Neville Hewitt signed a one-year contract with the New York Jets. In his first season he appeared in 16 games with four starts, finishing with 39 combined tackles and 1.5 sacks. He re-signed with the Jets on March 13, 2019, and quickly became a regular contributor, intercepting Bills quarterback Josh Allen in the season opener and adding a sack of Baker Mayfield in Week 2.
Hewitt’s best statistical season came in 2020, when he re-signed for a third year with the Jets and started all 16 games. He led the team with a career-high 134 tackles, while adding 2.0 sacks, four passes defensed, and one interception. By the end of his Jets tenure, he had become one of the defense’s most reliable linebackers.
Houston Texans Era (2021–2024)
On May 7, 2021, Hewitt signed with the Houston Texans, opening a new chapter in his career. In his first season with the club he played in all 17 games with five starts, registering 60 tackles. He returned to the Texans on March 30, 2022, and again on May 8, 2023, serving primarily on special teams during those later seasons. He signed another deal with Houston on April 1, 2024.
Across his four years in Houston, Hewitt established himself as a steady veteran presence. His role shifted from defensive starter to dependable special teams contributor, a transition he handled with the same professionalism that has defined his career.
New York Giants Era (2025–Present)
On September 16, 2025, Neville Hewitt joined the New York Giants practice squad, and on October 9, 2025, he was signed to the active roster. The move brought him back to the NFC East and reunited him with familiar divisional opponents. His experience and leadership have made him a valuable addition to the Giants’ linebacker room.
Driving Style and Strengths
Neville Hewitt is recognized for his tackling reliability, instincts in run support, and willingness to play a variety of roles. He excels at diagnosing plays quickly and has proven himself effective in both base defensive packages and on special teams. His comfort dropping into coverage and rushing the passer makes him a versatile chess piece for defensive coordinators.
Notable Events and Milestones
Some of Hewitt’s signature moments include his first career interception against the Dallas Cowboys in 2015, his first career sack against the New York Jets in 2016, and his career-high 134-tackle season with the Jets in 2020. His 2014 Conference USA Defensive Player of the Year award remains one of the defining achievements of his football journey.
Neville Hewitt Career Wins
While individual NFL games are won and lost by teams rather than players, Neville Hewitt has accumulated an impressive list of on-field accomplishments. Through Week 16 of the 2025 season, his career NFL regular-season statistics include 511 total tackles, 7.5 sacks, four forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, four interceptions, and 16 pass deflections. These numbers reflect a linebacker who has been on the field making plays for a decade.
NFL Regular Season Highlights
Hewitt’s standout statistical year came in 2020 with the Jets, when he led the team with 134 tackles. He has also posted 60 tackles in a season with the Texans and 39 tackles in both his rookie year with the Dolphins and his first season with the Jets. His consistency from year to year has been one of the hallmarks of his career.
Other Wins and Performances
Beyond his NFL achievements, Hewitt earned Conference USA Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2014, his final season at Marshall. He also recorded 208 tackles across two seasons with the Thundering Herd and 65 tackles in a single season at Georgia Military College, performances that established him as one of the top defensive prospects at the junior college level.
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Neville Hewitt Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public information about Neville Hewitt’s parents and immediate family members has not been widely documented. He grew up in the Silver Spring, Maryland, area before moving to Georgia during his high school years.
Personal Life
Neville Hewitt keeps his personal life largely private. He maintains a presence on social media platforms, including X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram, where fans can follow his professional updates.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 NFL season has seen Neville Hewitt join the New York Giants after spending the previous four years with the Houston Texans. Signed to the practice squad on September 16 and elevated to the active roster on October 9, he has provided depth and veteran experience to the Giants’ linebacker corps. Through Week 16 of 2025, his career totals stood at 511 tackles, 7.5 sacks, four forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, four interceptions, and 16 pass deflections.
Hewitt’s role with the Giants has primarily focused on defense and special teams, areas where he has built his reputation over a decade in the league. His familiarity with AFC East opponents, as well as his experience in both base and sub packages, has helped him transition smoothly into the NFC East. Coaches have relied on his preparation and football intelligence to stabilize the second level of the defense.
Looking ahead, Neville Hewitt continues to provide the New York Giants with a reliable veteran presence. His ability to contribute on defense and special teams makes him a valuable asset as the team navigates the remainder of the 2025 season. With more than 500 career tackles to his name, he remains a productive NFL linebacker whose journey from undrafted free agent to long-term professional stands as a testament to perseverance.
