.jpg) Mills with theHouston Texans in 2022 | |||||||||||||||
| No. 10 – Houston Texans | |||||||||||||||
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| Position | Quarterback | ||||||||||||||
| Roster status | Active | ||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||
| Born | (1998-10-21)October 21, 1998 (age 27) Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. | ||||||||||||||
| Height | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | ||||||||||||||
| Weight | 225 lb (102 kg) | ||||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||||
| High school | Greater Atlanta Christian (Norcross, Georgia) | ||||||||||||||
| College | Stanford (2017–2020) | ||||||||||||||
| NFL draft | 2021: 3rd round, 67th overall pick | ||||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics as of Week 12, 2025 | |||||||||||||||
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Davis Compton Mills (born October 21, 1998) is an American professionalfootballquarterback for theHouston Texans of theNational Football League (NFL). He playedcollege football for theStanford Cardinal and was selected by the Texans in the third round of the2021 NFL draft. Mills was Houston's starter during his first two seasons, before taking on a backup role after the Texans draftedC. J. Stroud.
Mills was born on October 21, 1998, inAtlanta, Georgia,[1][2] later attendingGreater Atlanta Christian School inNorcross, Georgia.[3][4] During his career, he passed for 6,290 yards and 66 touchdowns. He was selected to the 2017U.S. Army All-American Bowl, but was unable to play due to an injury.[5][6] A five-star recruit, Mills was ranked as the top quarterback in his class. He committed toStanford University to playcollege football.[7]
Millsredshirted his freshman year for theStanford Cardinal in 2017.[8] In 2018, he appeared in one game as a backup toK. J. Costello.[9] He entered 2019 as a backup to Costello, but started six of eight games after Costello was injured. AgainstWashington State, he set a school record with 504 passing yards.[10] He finished the 2019 season completing 158 of 241 passes for 1,960 yards, 11 touchdowns, and five interceptions. Mills played in five games during Stanford's pandemic-shortened 2020 season, completing 129 of 195 passes for 1,508 yards with seven touchdowns and three interceptions.[11] Mills graduated with a degree in Science, Technology, and Society in 2020.[12]
| Season | Team | GP | Passing | Rushing | Receiving | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cmp | Att | Pct | Yds | Y/A | TD | Int | Rtg | Att | Yds | Avg | TD | Rec | Yds | Avg | TD | |||
| 2017 | Stanford | 0 |  Redshirted | |||||||||||||||
| 2018 | Stanford | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 1 | 5 | 5.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 |
| 2019 | Stanford | 8 | 158 | 241 | 65.6 | 1,960 | 8.1 | 11 | 5 | 144.8 | 32 | 44 | 1.4 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 8.0 | 1 |
| 2020 | Stanford | 5 | 129 | 195 | 66.2 | 1,508 | 7.7 | 7 | 3 | 139.9 | 30 | 37 | 1.2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 |
| Career | 14 | 287 | 438 | 65.5 | 3,468 | 7.9 | 18 | 8 | 141.9 | 63 | 86 | 1.4 | 3 | 1 | 8 | 8.0 | 1 | |
| Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand span | 40-yard dash | 10-yard split | 20-yard split | 20-yard shuttle | Three-cone drill | Vertical jump | Broad jump | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 ft3+3⁄4 in (1.92 m) | 217 lb (98 kg) | 31+3⁄8 in (0.80 m) | 9+1⁄2 in (0.24 m) | 4.82 s | 1.74 s | 2.80 s | 4.40 s | 6.95 s | 32.0 in (0.81 m) | 9 ft 2 in (2.79 m) | ||
| All values fromNFL Combine[13][14] | ||||||||||||
Mills was selected 67th overall by theHouston Texans in the third round of the2021 NFL draft.[15] He signed his four-year rookie contract, worth $5.2 million, with the Texans on May 26, 2021.[16]
Due to incumbent starting quarterbackDeshaun Watson being ruled inactive, Mills was named the second option behindTyrod Taylor.[17] He made his NFL debut during the second half of the Week 2 game against theCleveland Browns after Taylor was injured, throwing for 102 yards, a touchdown, and an interception in the 21–31 defeat.[18][19] Mills made his starting debut against theCarolina Panthers the following week, in which he threw for 168 yards and a touchdown in a 9–24 home loss.[20][21] In Week 4, Mills struggled against theBuffalo Bills, completing 11 of 21 passes for 87 yards and four interceptions in a 0–40 shutout defeat on the road.[22] Mills rebounded the following week against theNew England Patriots when he completed 21 of 29 passes for 312 yards and three touchdowns in the narrow 22–25 loss, surrendering a 22–9 lead early in the third quarter.[23]
Mills resumed his backup duties after Taylor returned in Week 9, but the latter's ineffective performances led to Mills replacing him in the fourth quarter during a 0–31 shutout defeat in Week 13 against theIndianapolis Colts.[24][25][26] Following the game, Mills was announced as the starter for the remainder of the season.[27] He made his first career win in Week 15 against theJacksonville Jaguars, completing 19 of 30 passes for 209 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception in the 30–16 victory.[28] The following week, he helped lead the Texans to a 41–29 upset over theLos Angeles Chargers at home.[29]
For his rookie season, in 13 games and 11 starts, Mills set the franchise record for rookie passing yards at 2,664, passingDavid Carr's record of 2,592 yards (2002).[30] This record would be passed yet again in 2023 byC.J. Stroud with 4,108 passing yards.[31] His 16 passing touchdowns and 66.8 completion percentage were the second-highest among rookie quarterbacks for the season, behindMac Jones (22 passing touchdowns and 67.6 completion percentage).[32]
With Watson traded to the Browns and the departure of Taylor, Mills was named the Texans' starter for the 2022 season. In Week 1 against the Colts, he completed 23 of 37 passes for 240 yards and two touchdowns in the 20–20 tie.[33][34] Following a Week 11 loss of 10–23 to theWashington Commanders in a 5-game losing stretch, Mills was benched in favor ofKyle Allen for the Texans' Week 12 matchup against theMiami Dolphins.[35] After Allen and the Texans lost the next two games, Mills was made starter again.[36] In the season finale against the Colts, as Houston was down 24–31 with 58 seconds left in the game at 4th-and-20 on Indianapolis' 28 yard line, Mills threw a completed pass toJordan Akins for a touchdown. With a subsequent 2-point attempt tacked on by Mills and Akins, the Texans led 32–31 with 50 seconds left as the Colts got the ball back. With the help ofTremon Smith, the Texans won.[37] Hours later, Texans' head coachLovie Smith was fired as the win cost Houston the first overall pick in the2023 NFL draft, the pick instead going to Smith's formerChicago Bears.[38] For the 2022 season, Mills finished with 292 passes for 3,118 yards, 17 passing touchdowns and 15 interceptions to go along with two rushing touchdowns in 15 games and starts, as Houston finished with a 3–13–1 record.[39][40]
After the Texans selectedC. J. Stroud in the first round of the2023 NFL draft, Mills was named the Texans' backup after a preseason competition with Stroud, andCase Keenum was named third-string after being signed to the team in the offseason.[41] Mills appeared in six regular season games through the second half of the season, generating most of his season stats in a Christmas Eve game against the Browns in Week 16. After Stroud was ruled out with a concussion he sustained in Week 14,[42] Keenum was named starter, but was benched after the start of the fourth quarter as Houston was behind 7–36. Mills was able to generate some momentum, scoring in 2 of the next 4 drives and cutting the Browns' lead to 22–36 in Houston's loss. He also appeared in the Texans'Wild Card 45–14 win against the Browns in relief. In the regular season, he completed 18 of 39 passes for 173 yards and two touchdowns.[43]
On September 4, Mills signed a one-year, $5 million extension with the Texans through 2025.[44] He appeared in four games during the 2024 regular season as Stroud's backup, primarily seeing most of his action in Week 18 with the Texans' playoff position secured.[45] In the season finale against theTennessee Titans, after Stroud scored in Houston's first drive at the start of the game, Mills completed 12-of-22 passes for 128 yards and no touchdowns as he guided Houston to a 23–14 victory.[46]
On September 2, 2025, Mills agreed to a one-year, $7 million contract extension with the Texans.[47] In Week 10 against theJacksonville Jaguars, Mills was named the starter afterC. J. Stroud suffered a concussion in the previous week. After a 29–10 deficit, Mills would lead the Texans to a 36–29 comeback in the 4th quarter after passing for 2 touchdowns and having a rushing touchdown.
Mills started the following week against theTennessee Titans, and threw for 274 yards and 1 touchdown in the 16–13 road win.
Mills again started the next game against theBuffalo Bills on Thursday Night, and started 1/8 for 10 yards, but improved to 16/30 for 153 yards and 2 touchdowns in the 23-19 win.
| Legend | |
|---|---|
| Led the league | |
| Bold | Career high |
| Year | Team | Games | Passing | Rushing | Sacks | Fumbles | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Record | Cmp | Att | Pct | Yds | Y/A | Lng | TD | Int | Rtg | Att | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Sck | SckY | Fum | Lost | ||
| 2021 | HOU | 13 | 11 | 2–9 | 263 | 394 | 66.8 | 2,664 | 6.8 | 67 | 16 | 10 | 88.8 | 18 | 44 | 2.4 | 11 | 0 | 31 | 206 | 5 | 1 |
| 2022 | HOU | 15 | 15 | 3–10–1 | 292 | 479 | 61.0 | 3,118 | 6.5 | 58 | 17 | 15 | 78.8 | 32 | 108 | 3.4 | 17 | 2 | 31 | 244 | 8 | 3 |
| 2023 | HOU | 6 | 0 | — | 18 | 39 | 46.2 | 173 | 4.4 | 19 | 2 | 0 | 76.1 | 2 | 9 | 4.5 | 9 | 0 | 2 | 13 | 0 | 0 |
| 2024 | HOU | 4 | 0 | — | 20 | 36 | 55.6 | 212 | 6.0 | 25 | 0 | 0 | 72.9 | 3 | 11 | 3.6 | 9 | 0 | 2 | 18 | 0 | 0 |
| 2025 | HOU | 5 | 3 | 3–0 | 88 | 150 | 58.6 | 879 | 5.8 | 54 | 5 | 1 | 83.7 | 12 | 48 | 4.0 | 14 | 1 | 8 | 60 | 1 | 0 |
| Career | 41 | 29 | 8–19–1 | 681 | 1,098 | 62.0 | 7,046 | 6.4 | 67 | 40 | 26 | 82.7 | 64 | 209 | 3.2 | 17 | 3 | 72 | 541 | 14 | 4 | |
| Year | Team | Games | Passing | Rushing | Sacks | Fumbles | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Record | Cmp | Att | Pct | Yds | Y/A | Lng | TD | Int | Rtg | Att | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Sck | SckY | Fum | Lost | ||
| 2023 | HOU | 1 | 0 | — | 1 | 1 | 100.0 | 6 | 6.0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 91.7 | 3 | −4 | −1.3 | −1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Career | 1 | 0 | — | 1 | 1 | 100.0 | 6 | 6.0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 91.7 | 3 | −4 | −1.3 | −1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
Mills married Tori Wisted on February 17, 2024. The couple met in high school and got engaged in 2023.[48][49]
