With the first month of Anthony Hill Jr.’s NFL career in the books, the former Longhorn is adding to his trophy case. The Titans star was named the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Month for September on Monday. Since making his NFL debut, Hill has been one of the Titans' most valuable players and has filled up the stat sheet.
Through three games, Hill has a team-high 34 total tackles and two pass deflections. The Texas native also has two games with ten or more tackles and has shown no issue taking on a starter's workload. After being selected in the second round of the 2026 NFL Draft, Hill is quickly showing why he can be a franchise cornerstone.
#Titans LB Anthony Hill Jr. named NFL Defensive Rookie of the Month for Sept. In his first three games,
he's posted a league-hgh 34 tackles, while adding two passes defensed. First time TN has had a player earn rookie of the month honors since 2019.
— John Glennon (@glennonsports) October 1, 2026
Hill's success comes as no surprise given what he did in college. As a Longhorn, the talented linebacker recorded 249 total tackles and 17 sacks. He also had three interceptions and seven pass deflections during his time in the Forty Acres. Because of his stellar play, Hill became one of the Titans' top targets leading up to the draft.
As Hill made headlines during college with his play, he also added to his trophy case. The Ryan High alum was a 2025 Second Team All-American. He was also a finalist for the 2025 Butkus Award, which is given annually to the nation's top linebacker. Throughout his time in Austin, Hill won various weekly honors.
Anthony Hill Jr has been a tackling machine.
— Taylor S Hurst (@TitansMan97) September 29, 2026
He leads the entire NFL in tackles through the first 3 weeks with 34.
He’s all over the field every game. If he can sprinkle in a FF or INT through the season, this dude will win some awards in 2026. #TitanUp https://t.co/YVybFVDZsd pic.twitter.com/xuT5LbZWkk
While the Titans are off to a 0-3 start, Hill has been a bright spot so far and has emerged as a leader. He has shown a knack for frustrating offensive coordinators and helped keep games close. That is the type of player Tennessee needs on defense as they look to build a bright future.
Hill and the Titans will be back in action on Sunday, when they travel to Baltimore to take on the Ravens. That will give Hill another chance to shine against some of the league's best players.
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This article originally appeared on Longhorns Wire: Former Longhorn named NFL Defensive Rookie of the Month
