Mike Hilton

Hilton concluded his seventh NFL season and third with the Bengals in 2023, after joining Cincinnati as an unrestricted free agent in '21 ... Despite his size (listed at 5-9, 184), he is widely considered one of the NFL's top nickel CBs and is a productive blitzer with 11.5 career sacks ... Also has 24 TFLs since joining Bengals, including career-high 12 during 2023 season ... Voted a team captain for the first time in 2023, and played in all 17 games with 13 starts at NCB ... Two of his 12 career INTs came in 2023 ... 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 ... Originally a CFA 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 Steelers, playing in 59 games (20 starts).

Hilton concluded his seventh NFL season and third with the Bengals in 2023, after joining Cincinnati as an unrestricted free agent in '21 ... Despite his size (listed at 5-9, 184), he is widely considered one of the NFL's top nickel CBs and is a productive blitzer with 11.5 career sacks ... Also has 24 TFLs since joining Bengals, including career-high 12 during 2023 season ... Voted a team captain for the first time in 2023, and played in all 17 games with 13 starts at NCB ... Two of his 12 career INTs came in 2023 ... 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 ... Originally a CFA 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 Steelers, playing in 59 games (20 starts).

Career transactions:

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.

Pro career:

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, recorded first career sack and first career INT, both against QB Joe Flacco ... 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, one sack, eight PDs, INT and two FRs ... Had an INT and first career FR on Sept. 24 at Tampa Bay ... Logged team-high eight tackles with a sack and FR on Dec. 9 at Oakland.

2019—Played all 16 games (eight starts) for Steelers ... Had 63 tackles, 1.5 sacks, 11 PDs, one INT, one FF and one FR ... His six TFLs led all NFL CBs ... Had three tackles and half sack on Dec. 29 at Baltimore.

2020—Played 12 games (six starts) for Pittsburgh ... Inactive four games due to shoulder injury ... Had 50 tackles (led secondary), with three sacks, seven PDs, three INTs, a FF and two FRs ... 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 Bengals season ... 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 ... Had INT in regular-season finale at Cleveland when Browns were at Bengals' 11-yard line ... In 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 ... 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 pass in the second quarter and returned it to Ravens' 32-yard line, setting up Bengals TD drive ... Recorded 15 tackles, with one sack and three TFLs in the postseason ... Sacked QB Tyler Huntley for loss of eight yards in fourth quarter of Wild Card Playoff vs. Baltimore ... Logged eight stops and a PD in Divisional Playoff at Buffalo.

2023—Played in all 17 games with 13 starts at NCB ... Recorded career highs in total tackles (84) and TFLs (12) ... Posted two sacks, eight PDs, two INTs and one FR ... On Oct. 15 vs. Seattle, intercepted pass by QB Geno Smith inside Bengals red zone in third quarter and recorded five tackles with an assisted TFL ... Logged career-high 10 solo tackles on Nov. 5 vs. Buffalo ... Recorded eight tackles on Nov. 12 vs. Houston and recovered a fumble (forced by LB Logan Wilson) at Cincinnati 28-yard line in second quarter ... Had eight solo stops with two TFLs on Nov. 26 vs. Pittsburgh ... Followed with two more TFLs and a PD on Dec. 4 at Jacksonville, including tackle of RB D'Ernest Johnson for four-yard loss in overtime ... On Dec. 16 vs. Minnesota, picked off QB Nick Mullens at Bengals' goal line and returned it 16 yards in second quarter ... Had two TFLs in five-tackle performance on Dec. 31 at Kansas City.

College:

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.

High school/personal:

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 ... Graduated from Mississippi with degree in general studies.