Billy Price (American football)

{{Infobox NFL biography

| name = Billy Price

| image = Billy Price (51499209097) (cropped).jpg

| alt =

| caption = Price with the New York Giants in 2021

| number = 53, 69

| current_team =

| position = Center

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1994|10|11|mf=y}}

| birth_place = Austintown, Ohio, U.S.

| death_date =

| death_place =

| height_ft = 6

| height_in = 4

| weight_lb = 310

| high_school = Austintown Fitch

| college = Ohio State (2013–2017)

| draftyear = 2018

| draftround = 1

| draftpick = 21

| pastteams = * Cincinnati Bengals ({{NFL Year|2018|2020}})

New York Giants ({{NFL Year|2021}})
Las Vegas Raiders ({{NFL Year|2022}})*
Arizona Cardinals ({{NFL Year|2022}})
New Orleans Saints ({{NFL Year|2023}})*
Dallas Cowboys ({{NFL Year|2023}})*

| status =

| highlights = * PFWA All-Rookie Team (2018)

CFP national champion (2014)
Rimington Trophy (2017)
Jim Parker Trophy (2017)
Unanimous All-American (2017)
Second-team All-American (2016)
Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year (2017)
2× First-team All-Big Ten (2016, 2017)
Third-team All-Big Ten (2015)

| statseason =

| statweek =

| statlabel1 = Games played

| statvalue1 = 69

| statlabel2 = Games started

| statvalue2 = 45

| statlabel3 = Fumble recoveries

| statvalue3 = 1

| pfr = PricBi01

}}

William Price (born October 11, 1994) is an American former professional football player who was a center for six seasons in the National Football League (NFL) with the Cincinnati Bengals, New York Giants and Arizona Cardinals. He played college football for the Ohio State Buckeyes, earning unanimous All-American honors in 2017. He was selected by the Bengals in the first round of the 2018 NFL draft.

Early life

Price attended Austintown Fitch High School in Austintown, Ohio, where he played defensive line.{{Cite web|title=Billy Price (C): Bio, News, Stats & more|url=https://www.bengals.com/team/players-roster/billy-price/|access-date=2021-09-01|website=www.bengals.com|language=en-US}} In 2012, as a senior, Price earned First-team All-State and Division I Co-Defensive Player of the Year in Ohio (AP). In his sophomore and senior seasons, Price helped his Fitch team earn playoff berths.

In high school, Price also competed in the discus and shotput on Fitch's track and field team.

College career

A 4-star recruit, Price committed to Ohio State over offers from Michigan, Nebraska, Notre Dame, Tennessee, and UCLA, among others.{{Cite web|url=https://247sports.com/Player/Billy-Price-11720/|title = Billy Price, Cincinnati Bengals, Offensive Line}} In 2013, Price redshirted his freshman season before going on to start all 55 games from 2014 to 2017, breaking the previous OSU school records for starts and consecutive starts of 50.

As a redshirt freshman starting at guard, Price helped Ohio State to the national championship.

Price played his first three seasons at offensive guard before moving to center for his senior season.

As a senior with the Ohio State Buckeyes in 2017, Price won the Rimington Trophy as the best collegiate center, earned First-team All-Big Ten honors, and was also named a unanimous All-American.{{cite web|url=http://www.cleveland.com/osu/2017/12/ohio_states_billy_price_wins_r.html|title=Ohio State's Billy Price wins Rimington Trophy for nation's best center: Buckeyes football news|author=Landis, Bill|publisher=Cleveland.com|date=December 7, 2017|access-date=April 10, 2018}}{{cite web|url=http://www.dispatch.com/sports/20171207/ohio-state-football--billy-price-named-nations-top-center|title=Ohio State football - Billy Price named nation's top center|first=Tim|last=May|publisher=The Columbus Dispatch|date=December 7, 2017|access-date=April 10, 2018}}

In 2016 and 2017, Price was elected team captain.

Professional career

{{NFL predraft

| height ft = 6

| height in = 3¾

| weight = 305

| dash =

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| broad ft =

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| wonderlic =

| arm span = 32

| hand span = 9¾

| note = All values from NFL Combine{{Cite web | url = https://www.nfl.com/prospects/billy-price?id=32462018-0002-5599-11cc-88054ff74390 | title = NFL Draft Prospect Profile - Billy Price | work = nfl.com | date = March 1, 2018 | access-date = March 1, 2018}}{{cite web |url=http://www.draftscout.com/ratings/dsprofile.php?pyid=127944&draftyear=2018&genpos=C | title = Ohio State C Billy Price : 2018 NFL Draft Scout Player Profile | work = NFLDraftScout.com | access-date = May 12, 2018}}

}}

=Cincinnati Bengals=

File:Billy Price (50677808006) (cropped).jpg in 2020]]

Price was selected by the Cincinnati Bengals with the 21st overall pick in the first round of the 2018 NFL draft.{{cite web|title=Cincinnati Bengals select Ohio State center Billy Price in Round 1|url=https://www.cincyjungle.com/2018/4/26/17281650/2018-nfl-draft-results-cincinnati-bengals-ohio-state-billy-price-round-1|website=CincyJungle.com|date=April 26, 2018|access-date=May 26, 2018}} The Bengals acquired the pick from the Buffalo Bills along with Cordy Glenn in an offseason trade.{{Cite web |title=2018 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2018/draft.htm |access-date=2023-05-17 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}} He started the first two games at center before missing the next six games with a foot injury. He returned in Week 10 and remained the starter the rest of the season. He was named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team.{{Cite web |title=2018 NFL All-Rookie Team |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/awards/nfl-all-rookie-2018.htm |access-date=2024-07-28 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}

On April 28, 2021, the Bengals declined the option on Price's contract, making him a free agent in 2022.{{cite web|title=Bengals decline fifth-year option for Billy Price, per report|url=https://www.cincyjungle.com/2021/4/28/22407793/bengals-fifth-year-option-billy-price-nfl-news|work=Cincy Jungle|publisher=SB Nation|date=April 28, 2021}}

=New York Giants=

On August 30, 2021, Price was traded to the New York Giants in exchange for defensive tackle B. J. Hill.{{cite web|url=https://www.bengals.com/news/price-for-trade-as-bengals-pick-up-d-tackle-from-giants|title=Price For Trade As Bengals Pick Up D-Tackle From Giants|date=August 30, 2021|accessdate=August 30, 2021|first=Geoff|last=Hobson|work=Bengals.com}} Price started in 15 games in 2021 allowing 24 quarterback pressures and two sacks. Those 24 pressures were the fourth most by a Giants offensive lineman.{{cite web|title=Giants 2022 UFA Primer: OL Billy Price |url=https://www.si.com/nfl/giants/.amp/big-blue-plus/giants-2022-ufa-primer-ol-billy-price|author=Lebitsch, Stephen|website=Si.com|date=February 13, 2022}}

=Las Vegas Raiders=

On September 14, 2022, Price signed with the Las Vegas Raiders to the practice squad.{{cite web | url=https://www.raiders.com/news/raiders-sign-wr-keelan-cole-to-active-roster-place-wr-dj-turner-reserve-injured | title=Raiders sign WR Keelan Cole to active roster, place WR DJ Turner on reserve/Injured list }}

=Arizona Cardinals=

On October 4, 2022, the Arizona Cardinals signed Price off the Raiders practice squad.{{Cite web |last=Urban |first=Darren |date=October 4, 2022 |title=Cardinals Release Andy Isabella; Sign Center Billy Price |url=https://www.azcardinals.com/news/cardinals-move-on-from-andy-isabella-sign-center-billy-price |access-date=2022-10-04 |website=www.azcardinals.com |language=en-US}} Price was named the starting center for Week 7 after Rodney Hudson injured his knee.{{cite web|title=The (Billy) Price Is Finally Right, And Friday Before The Vikings|url=https://www.azcardinals.com/news/the-billy-price-is-finally-right-and-friday-before-the-vikings|author=Urban, Darren|website=azcardinals.com|date=October 28, 2022}}

=New Orleans Saints=

On June 15, 2023, Price signed with the New Orleans Saints.{{Cite web|title=Saints sign Billy Price|url=https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2023/06/15/saints-sign-billy-price/amp/|access-date=June 15, 2023|website=profootballtalk.nbcsports.com|language=en}} He was released by the team on July 20.{{cite web|title=New Orleans Saints announce roster moves|url=https://www.neworleanssaints.com/news/new-orleans-saints-roster-moves-announced-072023|website=NewOrleansSaints.com|date=July 20, 2023}}

=Dallas Cowboys=

On September 27, 2023, Price was signed to the Dallas Cowboys practice squad.{{Cite web |last=Alper |first=Josh |date=September 27, 2023 |title=Cowboys sign Billy Price to practice squad |url=https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/cowboys-sign-billy-price-to-practice-squad |access-date=29 September 2023 |website=NBC Sports}} His contract expired when the team's season ended January 14, 2024.

= Retirement =

On May 25, 2024, Price announced his retirement, citing recovery from a non-sports-related pulmonary embolism he suffered about a month earlier.{{cite web |author=Krispinsky, Chad |date=May 25, 2024 |title=Valley Native retires from the NFL after health scare |url=https://www.wkbn.com/sports/valley-native-retires-from-the-nfl-after-health-scare/ |website=wkbn.com}}

Personal life

At Ohio State, Price majored in Business Administration with a specialization in Operations Management. In college, Price earned Academic All-Big Ten Conference honors (2014 and 2017) and OSU Scholar-Athlete honors (2013 and 2014) twice each.