# Josh Hill (American football)

Joshua James Hill (born May 21, 1990) is a former American football tight end. He played college football for Idaho State and was signed by the New Orleans Saints as an undrafted free agent in 2013. He played with the team through the 2020 season.

## Professional career
### New Orleans Saints

Hill signed with the New Orleans Saints after not being selected in the 2013 NFL draft.
Hill became a restricted free agent during the 2016 offseason. On March 22, 2016, he signed an offer sheet to join the Chicago Bears. Three days later the Saints matched the Bears' offer sheet and re-signed Hill.
In Week 13 of the 2016 season against the Detroit Lions, Hill broke his fibula and was placed on injured reserve on December 9, 2016. He played in nine games with eight starts finishing the season with 15 receptions for 149 yards and a touchdown.
On December 31, 2018, Hill signed a three-year, $8.85 million contract extension with the Saints through the 2021 season.
On December 16, 2019, against the Indianapolis Colts on Monday Night Football, Hill caught a 5-yard touchdown, which ended up being quarterback Drew Brees' 540th regular-season touchdown pass, breaking Peyton Manning's previous mark of 539 during the 34–7 win.
On March 3, 2021, Hill was released by the Saints.

### Detroit Lions

Hill signed with the Detroit Lions on March 13, 2021. He was placed on the reserve/retired list by the team on May 10, 2021.

### NFL statistics
#### Regular season

| Season | Team | Games | Games | Receiving | Receiving | Receiving | Receiving | Receiving | Rushing | Rushing | Rushing | Rushing | Rushing | Fumbles | Fumbles |
| Season | Team | GP | GS | Rec | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Att | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | FUM | Lost |
| 2013 | NO | 14 | 3 | 6 | 44 | 7.3 | 9 | 1 | 1 | -8 | -8.0 | -8 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2014 | NO | 16 | 3 | 14 | 176 | 12.6 | 37 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2015 | NO | 16 | 7 | 16 | 120 | 7.5 | 19 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2016 | NO | 9 | 8 | 15 | 149 | 9.9 | 35 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2017 | NO | 16 | 11 | 16 | 125 | 7.8 | 22 | 1 | 1 | -8 | -8.0 | -8 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| 2018 | NO | 16 | 11 | 16 | 185 | 11.6 | 23 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2019 | NO | 16 | 11 | 25 | 226 | 9.0 | 29 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2020 | NO | 14 | 7 | 8 | 46 | 5.8 | 16 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | Total | 117 | 61 | 116 | 1,071 | 9.2 | 37 | 15 | 2 | -16 | -8.0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |

#### Postseason

| Season | Team | Games | Games | Receiving | Receiving | Receiving | Receiving | Receiving | Rushing | Rushing | Rushing | Rushing | Rushing | Fumbles | Fumbles |
| Season | Team | GP | GS | Rec | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Att | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | FUM | Lost |
| 2013 | NO | 2 | 1 | 2 | 32 | 16.0 | 23 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2017 | NO | 2 | 1 | 6 | 103 | 17.2 | 25 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2018 | NO | 2 | 1 | 4 | 31 | 7.8 | 24 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2019 | NO | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1.5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2020 | NO | 2 | 0 | 1 | -3 | -3.0 | -3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | Total | 9 | 4 | 15 | 166 | 11.1 | 25 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |