Nate Hobbs is an American professional football cornerback for the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Illinois Fighting Illini and was selected by the Las Vegas Raiders in the fifth round of the 2021 NFL Draft. After four seasons with the Raiders, he signed with the Green Bay Packers in 2025 and joined the 49ers in 2026. He earned PFF All-Rookie Team honors in 2021. Hobbs has established himself as a reliable NFL cornerback known for his physical style of play and consistent tackling ability.
Nate Hobbs Early Life and Background
Nate Hobbs was born on June 24, 1999, in Louisville, Kentucky. He attended Louisville Male High School in his hometown, where he developed into a promising defensive back prospect. His high school career laid the foundation for his eventual transition to collegiate football at the Division I level.
After graduating from Louisville Male High School, Hobbs was ranked as a three-star recruit by 247Sports.com. He received interest from multiple college programs and ultimately made his decision to continue his football career at the next level.
Path to the NFL
Hobbs committed to play for the University of Illinois on December 23, 2016. He played for the Illinois Fighting Illini from 2017 through 2020, developing his skills as a cornerback against Big Ten Conference competition. His collegiate career positioned him as a viable NFL prospect.
In the 2021 NFL Draft, Hobbs was selected by the Las Vegas Raiders in the fifth round with the 167th overall pick. He became the first cornerback drafted from Illinois to play in the NFL since 2010. He was also the first of five defensive backs from Illinois drafted between 2018 and 2020, with Kerby Joseph, Devon Witherspoon, Quan Martin, and Sydney Brown following in subsequent drafts.
Nate Hobbs Career
Las Vegas Raiders (2021–2024)
The Raiders obtained the 167th overall pick by trading guard Gabe Jackson to the Seattle Seahawks. On May 17, 2021, Hobbs signed a four-year, $3.78 million contract that included a signing bonus of $303,052. Throughout training camp, he competed against Keisean Nixon and Amik Robertson for the backup cornerback position. Hobbs unexpectedly overtook 2020 first-round pick Damon Arnette on the depth chart and was named the third cornerback to begin the season, behind starting cornerbacks Casey Hayward and Trayvon Mullen.
On September 13, 2021, Hobbs made his professional regular season debut and recorded two solo tackles in a 33-27 overtime victory against the Baltimore Ravens. In Week 6, he collected a season-high 11 combined tackles during a win over the Denver Broncos. On December 5, 2021, he recorded nine combined tackles and made his first career interception on a pass thrown by Taylor Heinicke during a loss against Washington. He was placed on the reserve COVID-19 list on December 20, 2021, and activated five days later. Hobbs finished his rookie season with 74 combined tackles, three pass deflections, one sack, and one interception in 16 games and nine starts. He received an overall grade of 80.1 from Pro Football Focus and earned a spot on the PFF All-Rookie Team.
The Raiders finished the 2021 season second in the AFC West with a 10-7 record and clinched a Wildcard spot. On January 15, 2022, Hobbs made his playoff debut and recorded eight combined tackles during a loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. After the season, the Raiders hired Josh McDaniels as their new head coach and Patrick Graham as defensive coordinator. They named Hobbs and Rock Ya-Sin as the starting cornerbacks for the 2022 season. In Week 2 of 2022, he collected a season-high 11 combined tackles against the Arizona Cardinals. On October 10, 2022, he exited a game against the Kansas City Chiefs due to an injury and was placed on injured reserve on October 17 after suffering a broken hand. He was activated on December 3, 2022, and finished the 2022 season with 72 combined tackles, four pass deflections, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, and one sack in 11 games and 11 starts.
Hobbs returned as the starting cornerback in 2023 paired with Marcus Peters. On September 10, 2023, he started the season opener at Denver and collected a season-high 12 combined tackles during a 17-16 win. He was sidelined for four consecutive games after injuring his ankle. On October 31, 2023, the Raiders fired head coach Josh McDaniels and promoted linebackers coach Antonio Pierce to interim head coach. On November 5, 2023, Hobbs made seven combined tackles, one pass deflection, and intercepted a pass during a win over the New York Giants. He finished the 2023 season with 86 combined tackles, seven pass deflections, one interception, and one sack in 13 games and 11 starts.
Antonio Pierce retained Hobbs as the starting cornerback in 2024 and paired him with Jack Jones. In Week 6, he collected a season-high ten combined tackles during a loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. On October 20, 2024, he recorded six solo tackles, one pass deflection, and intercepted a pass during a loss at the Los Angeles Rams. He injured his ankle in Week 9 and missed the next four games. He finished the 2024 season with 49 combined tackles, five pass deflections, and one interception in 11 games and seven starts.
Green Bay Packers (2025)
On March 13, 2025, Hobbs signed a four-year, $48 million contract with the Green Bay Packers. He made 11 appearances with five starts for Green Bay, recording two pass deflections and 27 combined tackles. On December 31, 2025, the Packers placed him on season-ending injured reserve due to a knee injury suffered in Week 17 against the Baltimore Ravens. He was released by the Packers on March 11, 2026.
San Francisco 49ers (2026–Present)
On March 16, 2026, Hobbs signed a one-year, $4.5 million contract with the San Francisco 49ers. He continues his NFL career as a cornerback for the 49ers.
Nate Hobbs Career Statistics
Throughout his NFL career, Hobbs has accumulated 308 combined tackles, 3 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery, 21 pass deflections, and 3 interceptions across regular season play. His consistent tackling production and coverage skills have made him a reliable option at the cornerback position.
| Season | Team | Games | Combined Tackles | Sacks | Forced Fumbles | Fumble Recoveries | Pass Deflections | Interceptions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Las Vegas Raiders | 16 | 74 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 |
| 2022 | Las Vegas Raiders | 11 | 72 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 0 |
| 2023 | Las Vegas Raiders | 13 | 86 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 1 |
| 2024 | Las Vegas Raiders | 11 | 49 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 |
| 2025 | Green Bay Packers | 11 | 27 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Career | NFL | 62 | 308 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 21 | 3 |
Nate Hobbs Personal Life
On January 3, 2022, Hobbs was arrested for driving under the influence. He was found by police asleep at the wheel of his car on a parking lot exit ramp. The incident occurred during the offseason following his rookie season with the Raiders.
2025 Season Performance
During the 2025 season with the Green Bay Packers, Hobbs appeared in 11 games with five starts. He recorded 27 combined tackles and two pass deflections while adjusting to a new defensive system under Packers coaches. His season ended prematurely when he suffered a knee injury in Week 17 against the Baltimore Ravens, prompting the team to place him on season-ending injured reserve.
The Packers ultimately released Hobbs on March 11, 2026. He subsequently signed with the San Francisco 49ers, joining a defensive roster that features several accomplished players. The one-year contract represents an opportunity for Hobbs to demonstrate his abilities with a new team and work toward a more prominent role in the secondary.