Browns Safety Ronnie Hickman Recovering After Assault in NYC
Cleveland Browns safety Ronnie Hickman is back home and recovering after being assaulted early Monday morning at a hotel in New York City. The 24-year-old defensive back suffered minor injuries in the incident, which took place in the early hours at the SIXTY LES hotel on Manhattan’s Lower East Side.
According to police, Hickman was in the hotel lobby around 4:30 a.m. when he was approached by four unidentified individuals. A confrontation followed, and Hickman was reportedly struck before the group fled the scene. He was transported to Bellevue Hospital, where he was treated and later released in stable condition.
The Browns confirmed the incident in a statement, saying, “Safety Ronnie Hickman was a victim of assault early Monday morning at a New York City hotel. Ronnie was treated for minor injuries at an area hospital after the incident, was later released, and is home resting with his family.”
While the motive behind the attack remains unclear, police are investigating whether the assailants recognized Hickman as an NFL player. No arrests have been made at this time.
For those who’ve followed Hickman’s journey, this news hits close to home. A native of South Orange, New Jersey, Hickman carved out a reputation as a hard-hitting, high-IQ defender during his time at Ohio State.
After redshirting in 2019 and contributing on special teams in 2020, he broke out in 2021 while playing the versatile “Bullet” role in the Buckeyes’ defense. That season, he led the team with 99 tackles and added two interceptions - including a pick-six - along with a sack, a forced fumble, and a tackle for loss.
He followed that up with another strong campaign in 2022, earning third-team All-Big Ten honors after recording 53 tackles, seven pass breakups, an interception, and another forced fumble. Hickman’s ability to read plays, tackle in space, and make timely turnovers made him a fixture in the Ohio State secondary. Buckeye fans will no doubt remember his big-play moments, including a highlight-reel interception against Penn State and that pick-six versus Akron.
Despite his production, Hickman went undrafted in 2023 - a surprise to many who had watched his steady rise in Columbus. But he didn’t let that stop him.
Signing with the Browns as an undrafted free agent, Hickman put his head down and went to work. After seeing limited action in his first season, he began to climb the depth chart, showing flashes of the same instincts and tenacity that made him a standout in college.
By 2025, Hickman had earned a starting role in Cleveland’s defense - and he didn’t let go of it. He racked up a career-high 103 tackles and two interceptions while playing nearly every defensive snap. His emergence was a major boost for a Browns secondary that leaned on his physicality and football IQ throughout the season.
Now, as he enters the offseason as an unrestricted free agent, Hickman was expected to draw significant interest - and a well-earned raise - after proving himself as a reliable starter. While this incident is certainly an unfortunate and frightening moment, the good news is that Hickman is out of the hospital and recovering at home.
Given his resilience - from undrafted free agent to full-time NFL starter - it’s hard to imagine this setback will keep him down for long.