Nate Hairston

Nate Hairston's Biography

Nathan Hairston, born on June 30, 1994, is a renowned American football cornerback. Although currently a free agent, Hairston had an illustrious career with impressive milestones. He kick-started his football career playing for Temple during his college years. His performance caught the eye of the Indianapolis Colts, who drafted him in the fifth round of the 2017 NFL draft. Following a noteworthy college career, Hairston proved his mettle once again on December 21, 2016, when he accepted an invitation to play in the 2017 East-West Shrine Game. His skills impressed many draft scouts and analysts throughout the Shrine Game practices.

In the ensuing game on January 21, 2017, Hairston showcased his talent by recording three combined tackles. Although his East team lost 10-3 to the West, Nathan’s skills were evident. Around this time, he attended the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, performing admirably in the combine and positional drills. Continuing his journey, on March 8, 2017, Hairston took part in Temple’s pro day, standing on most of his combine numbers. He only took part in the three-cone drill, short shuttle, and positional drills.

By the close of the pre-draft process, industry experts and scouts predicted that Hairston would get drafted anywhere between the fifth to seventh rounds. His skills earned him a ranking as the 30th best cornerback prospect in the draft. The Indianapolis Colts, recognizing his potential, selected Hairston as the 158th overall pick in the 2017 NFL draft. In a rather unique twist, an orangutan from the Indianapolis Zoo selected Hairston, making him one of the only NFL players to get drafted by an animal.

Moving further into 2017, on May 11, the Colts signed Nathan to a four-year, $2.66 million contract, with a generous signing bonus of $267,758. Despite entering the training camp as a backup cornerback and special teams player, Hairston etched out a spot on the regular team, earning the position of the fourth cornerback on the Colts’ depth chart behind players like Vontae Davis, Rashaan Melvin, and Quincy Wilson.

Hairston made his professional regular-season debut in the Colts’ season opener against the Los Angeles Rams. Despite a hefty 46-9 loss, Hairston was able to mark his presence with a solo tackle. Following week, he recorded his first career sack on Cardinals’ quarterback Carson Palmer, further proving his worth on the field. As his career progressed, Hairston was named a starting cornerback alongside players Kenny Moore, Malik Hooker, and Clayton Geathers under the coaching of Philadelphia Eagles’ former offensive coordinator Frank Reich.

In 2019, Nathan was traded to the New York Jets. Showcasing his consistency, in a game against the Miami Dolphins, Hairston recorded his first interception of the season. His journey continued with the Baltimore Ravens’ practice squad and later with the Denver Broncos. His time with the Broncos was intermittent as he was released and re-signed a few times between 2020 and 2021.

Finally, on March 28, 2022, Hairston signed a one-year deal with the Minnesota Vikings. However, he was released shortly after on August 30, 2022. Continuing his journey in football, he joined the Arizona Cardinals practice squad on September 21, 2022. Unfortunately, Hairston was placed on the practice squad/injured list in late December of the same year. Upon recovery, he signed a reserve/future contract on January 11, 2023. However, before the start of the 2023 season, he was released by the Cardinals as part of the final roster cuts. Nathan Hairston’s career continues to unfold with anticipation for what the future holds for this skilled cornerback.