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Maxwell Hairston

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Maxwell Hairston
Hairston at the 2025 Senior Bowl
No. 31 – Buffalo Bills
PositionCornerback
Roster statusActive
Personal information
Born (2003-08-06) August 6, 2003 (age 22)
West Bloomfield, Michigan, U.S.
Listed height5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Listed weight192 lb (87 kg)
Career information
High schoolWest Bloomfield
CollegeKentucky (2021–2024)
NFL draft2025: 1st round, 30th overall pick
Career history
Awards and highlights
Career NFL statistics as of 2025
Tackles18
Pass deflections5
Interceptions2
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Maxwell Hairston (born August 6, 2003) is an American professional football cornerback for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Kentucky Wildcats and was selected by the Bills in the first round of the 2025 NFL draft.

Early life

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Hairston was born on August 6, 2003, in West Bloomfield, Michigan.[1][failed verification] As a senior at West Bloomfield High School, he recorded 16 pass deflections, three interceptions, and three forced fumbles.[2] Hairston committed to play college football at the University of Kentucky over other schools such as Kansas, Minnesota, Purdue, Virginia Tech, and Washington State.[3]

College career

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As a freshman in 2022, Hairston totaled two tackles.[4] In the 2023 season opener, he forced a fumble as he helped Kentucky beat Ball State 44–14.[5] The next week, Hairston recorded his first career interception in a win over Eastern Kentucky.[6] In week three of the 2023 season, he led the team with seven tackles with one going for a loss in a win over Akron.[7] In week four, Hairston set the single-game school record with two interceptions returned for touchdowns, as he helped Kentucky beat the Vanderbilt Commodores.[8]

Professional career

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Pre-draft measurables
HeightWeightArm lengthHand spanWingspan40-yard dash10-yard split20-yard splitVertical jumpBroad jump
5 ft 11+1⁄4 in
(1.81 m)		183 lb
(83 kg)		31 in
(0.79 m)		8+3⁄4 in
(0.22 m)		6 ft 4+5⁄8 in
(1.95 m)		4.28 s1.50 s2.51 s39.5 in
(1.00 m)		10 ft 9 in
(3.28 m)
All values from NFL Combine[9][10]

Hairston was selected by the Buffalo Bills in the first round with the 30th overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft.[11] On June 13, Hairston signed his rookie contract, a four-year contract worth $15.2 million, with a fifth-year option.[12] Hairston suffered an LCL sprain in a pre-season practice, causing him to begin the regular season on injured reserve.[13]

Hairston (#31) warming up with teammate Tre'Davious White (#27) before a game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2025

On October 25, 2025, Hairston was activated for his NFL debut ahead of Buffalo's Week 8 matchup against the Carolina Panthers.[14] The following week, while matched up with Kansas City Chiefs receiver Xavier Worthy, known for running the fastest 40-yard dash in NFL Combine history, Hairston made his first career interception, sealing a 28-21 Bills win over the rival Chiefs.[15] In his first start the following week versus the Miami Dolphins, Hairston was beat by Jaylen Waddle for a long touchdown, but bounced back in the second half, intercepting another pass intended for Waddle.[16]

Hairston notably missed both of the Bills' playoff games due to an ankle injury suffered in week 18 of the regular season against the New York Jets.[17] Despite this and other injuries he dealt with during the season, he was named by The Athletic to its All Rookie Team for his play during the season, with his two interceptions tied for third place among all rookies. He finished his rookie season with 18 total tackles (14 solo), 5 passes defensed, and two interceptions in 11 games played and three starts.[18][19]

Career statistics

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NFL

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Legend
Bold Career High

Regular season

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Year Team Games Tackles Interceptions Fumbles
GPGSCmbSoloAstTFLSckIntYdsAvgLngTDPDFFFRTD
2025BUF 113181440.00.0210.5105000
Career113181440.00.0210.5105000

College

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Year Team GP Tackles Interceptions Fumbles
Cmb Solo Ast TFL Sck Int Yds Avg TD PD FF FR TD
2022Kentucky 12 2 1 1 0.0 0.0 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0
2023Kentucky 13 68 55 13 1.5 0.0 5 131 26.2 2 6 1 0 0
2024Kentucky 7 19 15 4 1.0 1.0 1 25 25.0 1 4 2 0 0
Career 32 89 71 18 2.5 1.0 6 156 26.0 3 10 3 0 0
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Hairston was accused of sexual assault in 2021 while attending the University of Kentucky. The offenses of first degree rape and first-degree burglary were investigated, but he was never criminally charged. During the time of the NFL Draft, Bills General Manager Brandon Beane claimed "all teams were aware of the Title IX thing. That was fully investigated by the school. There’s everything out. He even volunteered to a polygraph and had notes".[20][21] In July 2025, a federal lawsuit was filed that alleged Hairston entered the victim's dormitory uninvited, ignored the victim's lack of interest in sexual intercourse, forcefully removed the victim's shorts and subsequently sexually assaulted her.[22][23]

References

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  1. ↑ Brown, Drew (July 19, 2020). "Maxwell Hairston calls UK a dream school". A Sea of Blue. SB Nation. Retrieved September 24, 2023.
  2. ↑ Luckett, Adam (August 18, 2023). "Maxwell Hairston has committed to Kentucky's player development plan". On3.com. Retrieved September 24, 2023.
  3. ↑ Purcell, Jared (August 17, 2020). "West Bloomfield 3-star CB Maxwell Hairston commits to Kentucky". MLive.com. Retrieved September 24, 2023.
  4. ↑ "Maxwell Hairston 2022 Game Logs". Sports Reference. Retrieved September 24, 2023.
  5. ↑ Clay, John. "College football final: Kentucky 44, Ball State 14". Lexington Herald Leader. Retrieved September 24, 2023.
  6. ↑ "Eastern Kentucky 17–28 Kentucky". ESPN. Retrieved September 24, 2023.
  7. ↑ Pilgrim, Jack (September 17, 2023). "Maxwell Hairston emerging as playmaker in Kentucky secondary". On3.com. Retrieved September 24, 2023.
  8. ↑ Diamond, Jim (September 23, 2023). "Hairston's pair of pick-6s give Kentucky 45–28 vin over Vanderbilt". AP News. Retrieved September 24, 2023.
  9. ↑ "Maxwell Hairston Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved February 28, 2025.
  10. ↑ "Maxwell Hairston College Football Profile". DraftScout.com. Retrieved February 28, 2025.
  11. ↑ Miller, Ryan (April 25, 2025). "Maxwell Hairston: Bills pick wins NFL Draft as ultimate hype man". Democrat and Chronicle. Retrieved April 25, 2025.
  12. ↑ "Bills sign Maxwell Hairston and Deone Walker to rookie contracts". www.buffalobills.com. June 13, 2025. Retrieved July 16, 2026.
  13. ↑ "Bills' Maxwell Hairston avoids serious knee injury, source confirms". espn.com. July 30, 2025. Retrieved October 1, 2025.
  14. ↑ "Bills first-round pick Maxwell Hairston set for season debut". espn.com. Retrieved October 26, 2025.
  15. ↑ "Maxwell Hairston proves he's ready for starting role in Bills' Week 9 win over Chiefs". Buffalo Bills On SI. November 3, 2025. Retrieved November 3, 2025.
  16. ↑ Lysowski, Lance (November 14, 2025). "Maxwell Hairston got beat. His response bodes well for the Bills' secondary". Buffalo News. Retrieved November 14, 2025.
  17. ↑ "Buffalo Bills will be without 2 key players against Broncos in Divisional Round". Buffalo Bills On SI. January 15, 2026. Retrieved February 4, 2026.
  18. ↑ "Bills' Maxwell Hairston: Shows flashes in rookie season". CBS Sports. February 3, 2026. Retrieved February 4, 2026.
  19. ↑ Beighle, Nathan. "Two Kentucky Wildcats crack The Athletic's NFL All-Rookie team". UK Wildcats Wire. Retrieved February 4, 2026.
  20. ↑ "Brandon Beane: Bills researched Maxwell Hairston allegations, "he's an impeccable kid"". NBC Sports. April 28, 2025. Retrieved May 1, 2025.
  21. ↑ Bardahl, Jayna; Graham, Tim (July 2, 2025). "Bills first-round pick Maxwell Hairston accused of sexual assault in lawsuit". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved July 5, 2025.
  22. ↑ "Woman accuses Bills' Hairston of sexual assault". ESPN.com. July 2, 2025. Retrieved July 5, 2025.
  23. ↑ "Bills first-round pick Maxwell Hairston accused of sexual assault in lawsuit". NFL.com. Associated Press. July 2, 2025. Retrieved July 10, 2025.
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