He forever etched himself into the hearts and minds of Cincinnati Bengals fans when he picked off a Patrick Mahomes pass and was part of the team’s trip last season to the Super Bowl.

This season, B.J. Hill and the Bengals look to get back to the big game and have already punched their ticket to the postseason.

Heading into the final two games of the season, Cincinnati is 11-4 and leads the Baltimore Ravens by a game in the standings. The Bengals have an opportunity to earn home-field advantage with a win Monday night at home versus Buffalo. Cincinnati wraps up the regular season at home against the Ravens.

During Cincy’s run to Super Bowl LVI last season, Hill had 5.5 sacks and 50 tackles, and was the starting nose tackle in the big game. Hill had one tackle and two assists, with that tackle going for a loss, becoming the first Stanly native to play in a Super Bowl.

Hill has had another solid season for the Bengals in 2022. In his second year with Cincinnati, the former West Stanly Colt and N.C. State Wolfpack player has 64 total tackles, three tackles for a loss and two sacks. Hill starts at right defensive tackle for the Bengals and has four pass deflections this season.

This season is Hill’s fifth in the National Football League after playing three seasons with the team who drafted him in the third round in 2018, the New York Giants. In the most recent NFL offseason, Hill signed a three-year, $30 million contract with Cincinnati.

He was a multi-sport standout at West, playing football, basketball and running track, before playing four seasons at N.C. State.