A free agency acquisition in 2021, Hilton is widely considered one of NFL's top nickel CBs ... Has 42 career TFLs and regarded as outstanding blitzer despite his size (listed at 5-9, 184), and he has 42 career TFLs ... Has made several key plays in postseason for Cincinnati, including an INT in 2021 Divisional Playoff at Tennessee and sack in fourth quarter of '22 Wild Card Playoff vs. Baltimore ... His 12 TFLs since joining the Bengals in 2021 are tied for third-most among NFL defensive backs ... Originally a college free agent with Jacksonville in 2016, and then spent time briefly on New England's practice squad before settling with Pittsburgh late in rookie season ... Spent four full seasons (2017-20) with the Steelers, playing in 59 games (20 starts).
Signed with Jacksonville as college free agent on 5-6-16 ... Waived by Jaguars on 8-30-16 ... Signed to New England practice squad on 9-6-16 ... Released from Patriots practice squad on 9-13-16 ... Signed to Pittsburgh practice squad on 12-13-16 ... Signed to Steelers roster on 1-23-17 (Reserve/Future) ... Signed contract extension with Steelers on 1-16-18 ... Received tender offer from Steelers on 3-5-19 ... Steelers contract expired on 3-13-19; became exclusive rights player ... Re-signed with Steelers as exclusive rights player on 7-25-19 ... Received tender offer from Steelers on 3-18-20 ... Steelers contract expired on 3-18-20; became restricted free agent ... Re-signed with Steelers as restricted free agent on 6-12-20 ... Steelers contract expired on 3-17-21; became unrestricted free agent ... Signed with Cincinnati as unrestricted free agent on 3-19-21.
2016—Did not play as rookie ... Spent offseason with Jacksonville; waived after preseason ... Spent four days on New England's practice squad in September ... Signed in December to Pittsburgh's practice squad, where he spent remainder of season.
2017—Made Steelers' active roster out of training camp, and played all 16 games (four starts) ... Totaled 54 tackles, four sacks, six PDs, two INTs and FF ... Made NFL debut Sept. 10 at Cleveland, and had two tackles ... On Oct. 1 at Baltimore, sacked Joe Flacco in third quarter for first career sack, and then picked off Flacco in fourth quarter for first career INT ... Named AFC Defensive Player of Week for Christmas Day performance at Houston, when he had three sacks of Texans QB T.J. Yates ... Played Divisional Playoff vs. Jacksonville (no stats).
2018—Played 15 games (two starts) for Steelers ... Inactive Sept. 30 at Baltimore (elbow) ... Had 56 tackles, sack, eight PDs, INT and two FRs ... Had INT Sept. 24 at Tampa Bay and first career FR ... On Dec. 9 at Oakland, had team-high eight tackles, sack and FR.
2019—Played all 16 games (eight starts) for Steelers ... Had 63 tackles, 1.5 sacks, 11 PDs, INT, FF and FR ... His six TFLs led all NFL CBs ... Had INT vs. Baltimore Oct. 6 ... Had three tackles and half sack Dec. 29 at Baltimore.
2020—Played 12 games (six starts) for Pittsburgh ... Inactive four games due to shoulder injury ... Had 50 tackles (led secondary), three sacks, seven PDs, three INTs, FF and two FRs ... Recorded sack Sept. 20 vs. Denver, and also a FR that set up Steelers TD ... On Sept. 27 vs. Houston, had INT in the fourth quarter with Steelers trailing by one point; pick set up what became game-winning TD ... Played Wild Card Playoff vs. Cleveland and had two tackles.
2021—Played all 17 regular-season games (nine starts at NCB) and all four postseason games (three starts at NCB) in first season with Bengals ... Posted 66 tackles in regular season, with two INTs (one pick-six), five PDs and FF ... Had INT Nov. 28 vs. Pittsburgh and returned it 24 yards for what he said after game was first pick-six of his career at any level ... Forced fumble (Bengals recovered) to set up a Cincinnati TD drive on Dec. 5 vs. L.A. Chargers ... Had INT in regular-season finale at Cleveland when Browns were at Bengals' 11-yard line ... In AFC Divisional Playoff at Tennessee, he chased down RB D'Onta Foreman on 45-yard run and made TD-saving tackle at nine-yard line, then on next play he batted pass into the air and intercepted it (19-yard return) ... Started at NCB and played all 69 defensive snaps in Super Bowl LVI, and had four tackles.
2022—Played 14 regular-season games (four starts at NCB) and all three postseason contests (one start at NCB) ... Missed two games due to injury (Game 9 vs. Carolina, finger; Game 14 at Tampa Bay, knee) ... Totaled 60 tackles (48 solos), with four TFLs, one INT and six PDs during regular season ... Helped defense hold opposing QBs to a league-low 58.9 completion percentage ... Opened the season with seven solo tackles on Sept. 11 vs. Pittsburgh ... Posted eight tackles (two for losses) and a PD on Sept. 25 at the N.Y. Jets ... In regular-season finale vs. Baltimore, intercepted a second-quarter pass in the second quarter and returned it five yards to the Ravens' 32, setting up a Bengals TD drive ... Recorded 15 tackles, with one sack and three TFLs in the postseason ... Sacked QB Tyler Huntley for loss of eight yards early in fourth quarter of Wild Card Playoff vs. Baltimore ... Logged eight stops and a PD in Divisional Playoff at Buffalo.
Played four seasons (2012-15) at Mississippi ... Played every position in the secondary, bouncing between CB and S early in his career before settling full-time at S prior to his senior season ... Semifinalist for the Jim Thorpe Award as a senior, in his first year as a full-time safety.
Hometown is Fayetteville, Ga. (outside Atlanta) ... Attended Sandy Creek High School in Tyrone, Ga. ... As senior, helped team to 12-1 record and berth in state playoffs ... Broke school record with nine INTs as junior ... Mississippi graduate with degree in general studies.
