Andrew Billings

Andrew Billings's Biography

Andrew Mitchell Billings, born on March 6, 1995, is an eminent figure in professional American football, recognized for his role as a defensive tackle in the National Football League (NFL). This biography highlights pivotal points in his career, striding from his early life in Texas and his standout performance in college football, to reaching the zenith of his career in the National Football League.

Hailing from Waco, Texas, Billings attended Waco High School, making strides in football, and also competing in powerlifting. His impressive strength led him to break the Texas record, previously held by Mark Henry, with a staggering total lift of 2,010 pounds. This prowess paved the path for him, attracting the attention of Rivals.com, rating him as a four-star recruit. Driven by his passion for football, he committed to Baylor University.

At Baylor, he truly began to shine. As a freshman in 2013, he played in 11 matches, making two starts, and recorded a total of 29 tackles. By 2014, he had evolved into a key figure on the field, starting all 13 games, and earning the title of All-Big 12 Conference after making 37 tackles and two sacks. His monumental performance at Baylor culminated in an invitation to the NFL Combine, a critical event for prospective professional players.

During the combine, Billings showcased his raw power, unmatched quickness, and impressive speed, jurying him as one of the top five biggest winners by Fox Sports. When Baylor hosted a Pro Day on March 16, 2016, Billings participated with his teammates, impressing the gathering of scouts from all 32 NFL teams.

Following these achievements, Billings was projected to be a late-first or second-round pick in the much-anticipated NFL Draft. ESPN ranked him as the third-best defensive tackle participant, while NFL analyst Mike Mayock echoed this sentiment, ranking him sixth-best. Sports Illustrated placed him seventh in their list of top defensive linemen. The Green Bay Packers, Washington Redskins, Steelers, and Minnesota Vikings showed a keen interest in him.

In a surprising turn of events, the Cincinnati Bengals selected Billings in the fourth round of the 2016 NFL draft, where he was the 16th defensive tackle to be chosen. Despite his fall in the draft owing to concerns about his height and the suspicion of a possible knee injury, he took it in his stride, signed a four-year contract with the Bengals valued at $2.87 million.

During training, Billings experienced a setback when he suffered a knee injury, which required surgery. This unfortunate incident meant he was placed on injured reserve for the whole 2016 season. Despite this initial trial, he returned stronger, competing for the coveted position of the starting nose tackle in training camp.

Billings made his professional regular season debut against the Baltimore Ravens. He then climbed the ladder to earn his first career start against the Tennessee Titans, tallying a season-high four combined tackles.

After four fruitful years with the Cincinnati Bengals, Billings signed with the Cleveland Browns in 2020. However, due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, he chose to opt-out of the season. The following year, he was waived by the Browns and soon signed onto the practice squad of the Miami Dolphins. Continuing his journey through various professional teams, he joined the Kansas City Chiefs’ practice squad in early 2022.

His road led him to sign contracts with the Las Vegas Raiders in February and then with the Chicago Bears in the following month. On November 2, 2023, he penned a two-year contract extension with the Bears worth $8.5 million, an impressive sum that attested to the skill and prowess he displayed on the field. His steep rise from his early life in Waco to his distinguished positions in the NFL certifies Billings as a key player in professional American football.