Troy Hill Bio
Troy Hill (born August 29, 1991) is an American former professional football cornerback who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 10 seasons. He suited up for the Cincinnati Bengals, New England Patriots, Los Angeles Rams, Cleveland Browns, Carolina Panthers, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Hill played college football for the Oregon Ducks, and currently serves as the head coach for St. Bonaventure High School.
Early Life and Background
Troy Hill was born on August 29, 1991, in Ventura, California. He grew up in the same coastal California city where he would later return as a coach, building his early football identity in a region with a strong gridiron tradition. He attended St. Bonaventure High School in Ventura, where he played both defensive back and wide receiver during his prep career.
During his senior season, Hill played for a St. Bonaventure squad that posted an 11–2 record, though all of those wins were later forfeited after it was determined he had been ineligible. Despite that setback, he earned a series of All-Channel League and All-CIF-Southern Section honors and was rated a three-star recruit by both Scout.com and Rivals.com, checking in as the No. 32 cornerback prospect in the country.
Path to American Football
Hill took his talents to the University of Oregon, where he spent five seasons with the Ducks from 2010 to 2014. As a junior, he ranked fifth among Oregon defensive backs in tackles and posted 29 stops with 21 solo tackles and four passes deflected. His senior campaign was his most productive, finishing seventh on the team with 71 tackles and earning second-team All-Pac-12 Conference recognition while starting 14 games.
His college path included a brief suspension in December 2013 after a guilty plea to a menacing charge, though he was later reinstated to the Oregon program. He completed his Oregon degree work as a social science major and declared for the 2015 NFL Draft, where he went undrafted but remained determined to earn a roster spot.
Troy Hill Career
Early Career (2015)
The Cincinnati Bengals signed Troy Hill to a three-year, $1.58 million contract on May 3, 2015, that included a $5,500 signing bonus. He competed throughout training camp for a backup cornerback role, and after being waived at the roster cutdown, he was quickly signed to the Bengals’ practice squad. On December 5, 2015, he was promoted to the active roster and made his regular-season debut on December 6 against the Cleveland Browns, recording three solo tackles in a 37–3 win.
After being waived by Cincinnati on Christmas Eve 2015, Hill was claimed the next day by the New England Patriots. He appeared in three games for New England and posted six combined tackles, five of them solo, before being waived on December 30, 2015. On December 31, 2015, the St. Louis Rams claimed him off waivers, setting the stage for the longest stop of his professional career.
St. Louis / Los Angeles Rams Breakthrough (2015–2020)
Hill spent the bulk of his NFL career with the St. Louis / Los Angeles Rams, beginning with the 2015 season finale. After the franchise relocated to Los Angeles, he worked his way up the depth chart under head coach Jeff Fisher and recorded his first career start on September 25, 2016, posting a season-high 11 solo tackles in a 37–32 win at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He finished 2016 with 40 combined tackles, two pass deflections, and four starts across 12 games.
Under new head coach Sean McVay, Hill developed into a reliable nickel and outside corner, missing time in 2017 due to a two-game substance abuse suspension and later injuries. In 2019, the Rams tendered him as a restricted free agent, and he signed a two-year deal on May 30, 2019. He became a versatile contributor in the secondary, eventually switching jersey numbers to accommodate teammates like Eric Weddle and Jalen Ramsey.
His 2020 season was his most celebrated, as Hill led the NFL in defensive touchdowns. He intercepted passes from Carson Wentz, Kyler Murray, and Chris Streveler, returning the latter two for touchdowns of 35 and 84 yards, and added a 20-yard fumble recovery score forced by Aaron Donald. The Rams relied on him as a starting-caliber cornerback during their playoff push that year.
Cleveland Browns Era (2021)
On March 22, 2021, Troy Hill signed a four-year, $24 million contract with the Cleveland Browns as a free agent. The deal reflected his emergence as a playmaking starter in Los Angeles. His time in Cleveland was short-lived, however, as the Browns traded him back to the Los Angeles Rams on April 30, 2022, in exchange for a fifth-round pick in the 2023 NFL draft.
Los Angeles Rams Second Stint (2022)
Returning to the Rams in 2022, Hill was placed on injured reserve on September 20, 2022, after suffering a groin injury in Week 2. He was designated to return on October 24 and activated in time for Week 8, then started 12 games for Los Angeles. He recorded 67 tackles, 45 of them solo, and added one interception during his second Rams stint.
Carolina Panthers Era (2023–2024)
On August 20, 2023, Hill signed with the Carolina Panthers and played in 16 games with three starts during his first season. He recorded 48 tackles, one forced fumble, and a 61-yard interception return for a touchdown. On March 13, 2024, he signed a one-year contract extension, and through six games in 2024, he logged 32 combined tackles before being released by Carolina on October 18, 2024.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Era (2024–Present)
On October 30, 2024, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers signed Troy Hill to their practice squad. He was promoted to the active roster on November 18, 2024, and finished the season as a depth piece in Tampa Bay’s secondary. He brought veteran experience and a track record of big plays to a Buccaneers defense chasing postseason form.
Driving Style and Strengths
Troy Hill built his reputation on ball-hawking instincts, fluid coverage in the slot, and the ability to deliver splash plays against the pass. He reads quarterbacks’ eyes well, attacks the football at the catch point, and has shown the tackling toughness needed to support against the run. His football intelligence allowed him to fill multiple roles across different defensive schemes and to remain a trusted contributor throughout a long NFL career.
Notable Events and Milestones
The signature stretch of Hill’s career came in 2020, when he tied for the NFL lead in defensive touchdowns with three. He also produced one of the most dramatic defensive seasons in Rams history, returning two of his three interceptions for scores. Over his ten NFL seasons, he recorded 414 total tackles, 9 interceptions, 41 pass deflections, 3 sacks, 4 defensive touchdowns, 2 forced fumbles, and 3 fumble recoveries.
Troy Hill Career Wins
Although individual game-win totals are not officially tracked for defensive players the way they are for quarterbacks, Troy Hill’s career is measured by disruptive plays, starting roles, and postseason appearances. He helped the Rams reach the postseason in 2017 as a wild-card participant and contributed to winning efforts across all six of his NFL teams, with multiple standout performances in division play.
Los Angeles Rams Highlights
Hill’s Rams tenure included the 2017 wild-card loss to the Atlanta Falcons and several signature regular-season wins. He posted a 17–7 Sunday Night Football victory over the Chicago Bears in 2019 with six tackles, a sack of Mitch Trubisky, and an interception. He also helped secure a 37–19 win over the Philadelphia Eagles in 2020 with a late fourth-quarter pick off Carson Wentz.
Other Wins and Performances
Beyond his Rams years, Hill contributed to wins with each of his other NFL stops, including a 37–3 victory at the Cleveland Browns in his Bengals debut in 2015 and a 24–14 win at the San Francisco 49ers later that season. With Cleveland, Carolina, and Tampa Bay, he served as a veteran presence on the back end, helping younger defensive backs adjust to NFL speed.
Troy Hill Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Specific details about Troy Hill’s parents and extended family are not widely documented in public sources. He grew up in Ventura, California, and has consistently credited his hometown and high school community for shaping his football journey.
Personal Life
Troy Hill majored in social science during his time at the University of Oregon. In November 2016, he was arrested by the California Highway Patrol for suspicion of driving under the influence on U.S. Route 101 and was booked before posting $15,000 bail. He has otherwise kept his personal life largely out of the public eye, with no confirmed public information about a spouse or children.
2025 Season Performance
Troy Hill is no longer active on the field in 2025 after completing his tenth NFL season in 2024. On May 13, 2025, he was hired to serve as the head football coach at his alma mater, St. Bonaventure High School in Ventura, California. The move marks his first major coaching role and returns him to the program where he built his name as a teenager.
Hill’s transition to the sideline brings his decade of NFL experience, including stints under coaches like Jeff Fisher and Sean McVay, into a high school setting. He is expected to lean on his professional background in player development and defensive scheming as he builds the St. Bonaventure program. His hiring has been welcomed in Ventura as a homecoming for one of the area’s most accomplished football alumni.
Looking ahead, Hill’s 2025 focus will be on establishing a foundation as a head coach while mentoring young cornerbacks and defensive backs at the prep level. His story, from undrafted free agent in 2015 to NFL veteran and high school head coach in 2025, offers a strong blueprint for the players he now leads.