Johnathan Hankins NFL Career Overview and Final Stats

Former Ohio State defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins has announced his retirement from the NFL after a solid 12-year professional career. The 34-year-old informed NFL insider Jordan Schultz of his decision on Thursday, closing the book on a reliable run as one of the league’s premier interior run-stuffers.

Career Overview and Final Stats

Hankins was selected by the New York Giants in the second round (49th overall) of the 2013 NFL Draft out of Ohio State. He went on to play for six teams: the Giants (2013–2016), Indianapolis Colts (2017), Oakland/Las Vegas Raiders (2018–2022), Dallas Cowboys (2022–2023), and Seattle Seahawks (2024).

Over 169 games (142 starts), Hankins compiled:

• 433 total tackles
• 44 tackles for loss
• 18.5 sacks
• 52 quarterback hits
• 13 forced fumbles
• 3 fumble recoveries
• 13 pass breakups
• 1 interception (in his final season)

Known more for clogging running lanes than generating high sack totals, Hankins carved out a lengthy career as a dependable nose tackle and interior presence. His best single-season sack total came in 2014 with the Giants (7.0). He appeared in all 17 games for Seattle in 2024, recording 30 tackles, five tackles for loss, one sack, and his first career interception.

Severe Back Injury Forced Johnathan Hankins to Miss the 2025 NFL Season

Hankins re-signed with the Seahawks in May 2025 but suffered a severe back injury during the offseason. He spent the entire 2025 season on the reserve/non-football injury list and was waived from that list in December. He remained a free agent afterward and ultimately decided to retire rather than attempt another comeback.

Johnathan Hankins College Career at Ohio State Buckeyes

Before the NFL, Hankins was a standout on the defensive line for the Ohio State Buckeyes from 2010 to 2012. He became a full-time starter as a sophomore in 2011, recording 67 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, and three sacks. In 2012 he posted 55 tackles, four tackles for loss, and one sack while earning All-Big Ten and first-team All-American honors. Those performances helped solidify his status as a high draft pick.

Legacy of Johnathan Hankins as a Durable NFL Interior Defensive Lineman

In an era of shorter average NFL careers, Hankins’ 12 seasons and 169 games stand out. He never earned Pro Bowl or All-Pro recognition but consistently delivered as a space-eating run defender across multiple franchises. From his early years with the Giants through stints with the Raiders, Cowboys, and Seahawks, he provided veteran leadership and physicality in the middle of the defensive line.

Hankins leaves the game having built a lengthy, productive career rooted in the foundation he established at Ohio State. Buckeyes fans and NFL observers will remember him as a durable, hard-working interior lineman who maximized his opportunities over more than a decade in the league.