Tim Settle

Tim Settle Bio

Tim Settle Jr. (born July 11, 1997) is an American professional football defensive tackle in the National Football League (NFL). After playing college football for the Virginia Tech Hokies, he was selected by the Washington Redskins in the fifth round of the 2018 NFL Draft. Over the course of his professional career, Settle has played for the Washington organization, the Buffalo Bills, the Houston Texans, and most recently returned to Washington with the Commanders.

Standing 6 ft 3 in and listed around 315 lb, Settle has built a reputation as a steady interior presence who can stop the run and pressure the quarterback. He is currently listed as No. 97 on the Washington Commanders roster.

Early Life and Background

Tim Settle Jr. was born on July 11, 1997, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He grew up in northern Virginia, where he attended Stonewall Jackson High School in Manassas and played for the Raiders. As a senior, he tallied 72 tackles, three sacks, two fumble recoveries, and 10 pass deflections, numbers that quickly drew national attention.

Rated as a five-star recruit, Settle committed to play football for the Virginia Tech Hokies in January 2015, choosing the program over other notable suitors such as Louisville and USC. His combination of size, quickness, and instincts made him one of the most sought-after defensive line prospects in his recruiting class.

Path to the NFL

Settle arrived at Virginia Tech in 2015 but did not play as a true freshman, opting to redshirt and develop his body behind the veterans on the Hokies’ defensive line. Working under head coaches Frank Beamer and Justin Fuente, he quickly earned his way into the rotation the following season.

As a redshirt freshman in 2016, Settle appeared in all 14 of Virginia Tech’s games, recording 17 tackles with seven tackles for loss, two quarterback hurries, and one blocked kick. His play earned him a spot on the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) All-Freshman Second Team. In 2017, as a redshirt sophomore, he played in 13 games, notching 36 tackles with 12.5 for loss, four sacks, two quarterback hurries, one pass deflection, and one blocked kick. That performance led to a selection to the 2017 All-ACC Second Team. On January 4, 2018, Settle decided to forgo his remaining eligibility and declared for the 2018 NFL Draft.

Tim Settle Career

Washington Redskins / Football Team (2018–2021)

Settle was selected by the Washington Redskins in the fifth round, 163rd overall, of the 2018 NFL Draft. He made his NFL debut in the Redskins’ season-opening 24–6 victory over the Arizona Cardinals. In Week 12 of that season, against the Dallas Cowboys, he recorded the first three tackles of his professional career.

During the 2019 season, Settle made his first NFL start in a Week 2 loss to the Cowboys. In Week 5 of that year, he recorded his first career NFL sack, taking down New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady. By 2020, Settle had grown into a reliable rotational piece, finishing the campaign with a career-high five sacks, which ranked fourth on the team. On December 14, 2021, he was placed on the COVID-19 reserve list but was reactivated a week later.

Buffalo Bills Era (2022–2023)

On March 17, 2022, Settle signed a two-year contract with the Buffalo Bills, looking to expand his role on a contending defense. In the 2022 season, he posted one sack, 19 tackles, one pass defended, and one forced fumble while contributing on early downs and in pass-rush situations.

In 2023, Settle continued to serve as a rotational defensive tackle, recording one sack and 14 tackles across the season. His time in Buffalo provided him with a chance to develop within a winning organization before he reached free agency again.

Houston Texans Era (2024–2025)

On March 15, 2024, Settle signed a two-year contract with the Houston Texans. He quickly became a meaningful contributor on the interior, appearing in 17 games with 11 starts and tallying five sacks and 31 tackles during his Texans tenure.

Settle entered the 2025 campaign as one of Houston’s starting defensive tackles, posting three pass deflections, one sack, and 15 combined tackles across 12 games. On December 4, 2025, the team announced that Settle would require season-ending surgery to address a foot injury, cutting his final year in Houston short.

Driving Style and Strengths

Listed at 6 ft 3 in and around 315 lb, Settle combines a thick lower body with surprising quickness off the snap. He is at his best on early downs where he can anchor against the run, and his ability to collapse the pocket has produced double-digit career sacks.

Notable Events and Milestones

Among Settle’s signature moments are his first career sack of Tom Brady in 2019, a five-sack season in 2020 that placed him among Washington’s top pass rushers, and his first multi-sack campaign with Houston in 2024. He also earned back-to-back ACC honors in 2016 and 2017 before becoming a fifth-round draft pick in 2018.

Tim Settle Career Wins

Tim Settle Jr.’s career has been defined more by consistent production than by headline-grabbing win totals, but he has stacked impressive statistical seasons across multiple organizations. From his All-ACC recognition at Virginia Tech to steady contributions with the Redskins, Bills, Texans, and Commanders, Settle has been a dependable interior presence throughout his professional journey.

NFL Highlights

Through the 2025 season, Settle had recorded 133 tackles, 15 sacks, one forced fumble, three fumble recoveries, and four pass deflections in his NFL career. His first career sack of Tom Brady in 2019 and his five-sack season in 2020 stand out as early highlights, while his 2024 campaign with Houston, in which he posted five sacks and 31 tackles, marked a return to peak form.

College Highlights

At Virginia Tech, Settle earned Second-team All-Freshman ACC honors in 2016 and Second-team All-ACC recognition in 2017, capping his redshirt sophomore season before declaring for the 2018 NFL Draft.

Tim Settle Family

Family Background and Racing Lineage

Tim Settle Jr. is identified publicly by his full name, with the Jr. suffix indicating that he shares his name with his father. Beyond that, detailed family background is not widely documented in verified sources.

Personal Life

Settle was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and grew up in northern Virginia. Public information about his personal life, including marital status, is limited, and he has kept those details largely private while focusing on his football career.

2025 Season Performance

Settle opened the 2025 season as one of the Houston Texans’ starting defensive tackles, providing interior pressure and run defense alongside the rest of the Texans’ front. Across 12 appearances, he contributed three pass deflections, one sack, and 15 combined tackles, showing the kind of well-rounded production that had defined his career.

His 2025 campaign, however, was cut short on December 4, when it was announced that he would require season-ending surgery to address a foot injury. The Texans proceeded without him for the final stretch of the season, while Settle turned his attention toward recovery.

Looking ahead, Settle’s free agency outlook changed on March 12, 2026, when he signed a three-year, $24 million contract with the Washington Commanders, returning to the franchise that originally drafted him and setting the stage for a fresh chapter in his career.