Tony Hills (American football)

Anthony Tremaine Hills (born November 4, 1984) is a former American football offensive tackle. He was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the fourth round of the 2008 NFL Draft. He won Super Bowl XLIII with Pittsburgh over the Arizona Cardinals. He played college football at University of Texas.

Tony Hills
Hills with the Denver Broncos
No. 66, 67, 76, 78
Position:Offensive tackle
Personal information
Born: (1984-11-04) November 4, 1984
Dallas, Texas
Height:6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
Weight:304 lb (138 kg)
Career information
High school:Alief (TX) Elsik
College:Texas
NFL Draft:2008 / Round: 4 / Pick: 130
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Games played:13
Games started:1
Player stats at NFL.com

Early years

Though born in Dallas, Hills grew up in Houston, where he was an All-State tight end at Alief Elsik High School.[1] During Hills' senior year, he was rated by some scouting services as the top tight end prospect in the country, and he committed to play college football at Texas. His team reached the 5A state semifinals, but lost 30-21 to Converse Judson. During that game, Hills suffered a severe injury to his peroneal nerve and was told that he might not be able to play football again. He underwent two surgeries and lengthy rehabilitation before reporting to Texas (which was honoring his scholarship despite the injury) in spring 2004.[2]

College career

Hills attended the University of Texas, where he was forced to redshirt the 2003 season after reconstructive surgery on his left knee following a career-threatening injury (nerve damage). When he returned, he was moved from tight end to offensive tackle, and appeared in 31 games during his first three seasons (2004–2006). In 2005, he was part of the Longhorn team that won the National Championship. As a junior in 2006, Hills started at left tackle in all 13 games of the season. He started the Longhorns' first 11 games of 2007, but suffered a fractured left fibula that cost him the last two games.[3]

Professional career

2008 NFL Draft

Hills is considered to be part of a strong group of offensive tackles and was seen by most analysts as a third-round pick. He was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the fourth round with the 130th pick.[4]

Pittsburgh Steelers

Hills was drafted in the fourth round of the 2008 NFL Draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers, spending three seasons with the team. He played in 4 games during the 2010 season.[5] He was released on September 3, 2011.

Denver Broncos

On September 6, 2011, he signed with the Denver Broncos.

Indianapolis Colts

On October 6, 2012, he signed with the Indianapolis Colts. He played in 6 games for the Colts during the 2012 season, starting 1.

Buffalo Bills

On July 28, 2013, Hills signed with the Buffalo Bills.[6] On August 18, 2013, he was released by the Bills.[7]

Oakland Raiders

On August 20, 2013, Hills was signed by the Oakland Raiders.[8]

Miami Dolphins

On July 28, 2014, Hills was signed by the Miami Dolphins.[9]

Dallas Cowboys

On October 15, 2014 Hills was signed by the Dallas Cowboys. He played in 3 games for the Cowboys during the 2014 season.

Carolina Panthers

On July 28, 2015, Hills was signed by the Carolina Panthers.[10][11] He was cut on August 30, 2015.[12]

Baltimore Ravens

On September 16, 2015, the Baltimore Ravens signed Hills to their practice squad.[13] On September 21, 2015, he was waived by the Ravens.[14]

New Orleans Saints

On October 6, 2015, Hills signed with the New Orleans Saints, his tenth team of his NFL career.[15] Expected to be only a backup in his first game after signing, a nationally televised Thursday Night Football game against Atlanta, he ended up playing left tackle for most of the game after an injury to Saints rookie Andrus Peat.[16] Hills ultimately played in 8 games for the Saints in 2015. He started the 2016 off-season as a free agent, but returned to the Saints on August 1, 2016.[17] On September 3, 2016, he was released by the Saints.[18] He re-signed on September 21, 2016.[19]

Detroit Lions

On June 8, 2017, Hills signed with the Detroit Lions.[20]

On July 31, 2017, Hills announced his retirement from the NFL.[21]

Personal life

Hills' younger brother Jeremy also attended Alief Elsik, and played running back at University of Texas.

References
  1. UT Bio from 2005, archive copy here.
  2. Brown, Chip (October 2, 2006). "Faith, family keep UT's OL in the flow: Injury jeopardized his playing career, but Hills never gave up hope" (PDF). The Dallas Morning News. Retrieved October 7, 2015.
  3. Brown, Chip (November 12, 2007). "Texas' Hills out for season". Dallas Morning News.
  4. Manfull, Megan (February 21, 2008). "NFL COMBINE NOTES: UT's Finley wants ball in pros". Houston Chronicle.
  5. Brown, Scott (August 21, 2011). "Steelers OL Hills has had his ups and downs". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Retrieved October 7, 2015.
  6. Brown, Chris (July 28, 2013). "Bills sign OL Antoine Caldwell, Tony Hills". BuffaloBills.com. Retrieved July 29, 2013.
  7. Brown, Chris (August 18, 2013). "Bills release four, WR Elliott to I-R". BuffaloBills.com. Retrieved August 18, 2013.
  8. Wilkening, Mike (August 20, 2013). "Raiders sign tackle Tony Hills". NBCSports.com. Retrieved August 20, 2013.
  9. "Dolphins sign offensive tackles Steven Baker, Tony Hills". FoxSports.com. Retrieved August 3, 2014.
  10. http://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/nfl/carolina-panthers/article29171020.html
  11. Newton, David (July 28, 2015). "Panthers waive RB Darrin Reaves, sign a pair of tackles". ESPN. Retrieved August 5, 2015.
  12. "Panthers reduce roster by eight". Panthers.com. August 30, 2015. Retrieved August 30, 2015.
  13. Mink, Ryan (September 16, 2015). "Ravens Cut QB Bryn Renner, Add Offense Tackle To P-Squad". BaltimoreRavens.com. Retrieved September 17, 2015.
  14. Mink, Ryan (September 21, 2015). "Ravens Re-Sign Robert Myers To Practice Squad". BaltimoreRavens.com. Retrieved September 28, 2015.
  15. Triplett, Mike (October 6, 2015). "New Orleans Saints sign journeyman OT Tony Hills". ESPN. Retrieved October 7, 2015.
  16. Triplett, Mike (October 16, 2015). "Saints rookie Andrus Peat out roughly four weeks with MCL sprain". ESPN. Retrieved October 16, 2015. Hills struggled early before settling in. 'I introduced myself to him last week: "Hey Tony, I'm Drew, nice to meet you. And now you're starting for about 58 minutes of that game,"' Saints quarterback Drew Brees said. 'He did a great job; he did an awesome job. A credit to him and his preparation ... he was ready for that moment. But it is kind of crazy to think you just signed a guy off the street a week ago and the next thing you know he's literally starting at left tackle for you.'
  17. Katzenstein, Josh (August 1, 2016). "OT Tony Hills re-signs with Saints; Jairus Byrd returns to practice Monday". Times-Picayune. Retrieved August 1, 2016.
  18. Katzenstein, Josh. "After cuts, New Orleans Saints have first 53-man roster of 2016". NOLA.com.
  19. "Saints place CB P.J. Williams on injured reserve, sign OT Tony Hills".
  20. "Lions sign free agent T Tony Hills". DetroitLions.com. June 8, 2017.
  21. "Lions sign free agent T Nick Becton". DetroitLions.com. July 31, 2017.
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