Nyheim Hines, an American professional football running back for the Los Angeles Chargers, has a lasting friendship with Sydnei Murphy.
They were high school athletes and pretended to get engaged after Hines won the state 55-meter indoor title.
They have often supported each other’s athletic careers and became The N&O’s High School Athletes of the Year in 2015.
Hines began playing football at Garner Magnet High School and committed to play college football at North Carolina State University.
After the junior season, he decided to forgo his senior year and enter the 2018 NFL draft.
His 4.38-second 40-yard dash was the fastest among 2018 NFL Draft Combine running backs, and the Indianapolis Colts selected him in the fourth round.
Hines was traded to the Buffalo Bills on November 1, 2022. Sadly, he missed his entire 2023 season due to leg injury, and the Bills released him in March 2024.
Later, he signed with the Cleveland Browns but was placed on the reserve/non-football injury list to start the season. He didn’t appear in any games, and the Browns released him in February 2025.
After not playing in the NFl for the past two seasons, he is making his comeback with the Los Angeles Chargers.
Nyheim Hines Once Faked A Proposal To Sydnei Murphy
Nyheim Hines and Sydnei Murphy were two of North Carolina’s most dominant high school track stars.
They were fierce competitors, close friends, and self-proclaimed old hubby and wifey of the state’s track scene.
Garner's Nyheim Hines and Apex's Sydnei Murphy are The N&O's High School Athletes of the Year http://t.co/VaMK1vNuXl pic.twitter.com/m3TktMdk8L
— The News & Observer (@newsobserver) June 21, 2015
However, their playful dynamic took a hilarious turn.
Hines dropped to one knee in a fake proposal to tease Murphy about her ever-growing collection of championship rings.
She has so many rings that she needed another.
Nyheim Hines
The moment came after he won the NCHSAA 4A indoor 55-meter championship while running on a fractured leg. Overcome with excitement, he found Murphy, his friendly rival from Apex High, and dramatically pretended to propose.
Their photo quickly circulated, with Murphy pretending to be surprised as Hines presented her with his hard-earned ring.
However, the joke underscored their long-standing friendship, which began in middle school when the two first met on the track circuit.
You’re running track and you meet a lot of people. And you know who is really good. You spend all day at the track, and you compete for 11 seconds. You get a lot of time to talk.
Sydnei Murphy
They teased each other like an old married couple, but insisted there was no romance between them. Their friendship was a mutual respect and a shared sense of humor.
Nyheim Hines and Sydnei Murphy’s Friendship Was Key In Their College Decision
Nyheim Hines and Sydnei Murphy couldn’t be more different in their pre-race routines. She’s talkative, bubbly, and full of energy, while he prefers quiet focus under the shade.
Yet their contrasting personalities have made their friendship stronger, especially during one of the most stressful times of their lives, choosing a college.
Murphy thrives on conversation, often seeking out Hines to engage in conversation. In return, Hines entertains her with his gymnastic skills, even as she playfully critiques his form.
Their playful banter has been a constant for years, but it became a lifeline during their intense recruiting processes.
They were highly sought-after athletes. Hines is one of the nation’s top football recruits, and Murphy is a talented sprinter.
The flood of calls and texts from coaches and reporters was overwhelming. Murphy guarded her phone number closely, while Hines learned the hard way that in football recruiting, sharing a phone number meant endless messages.
If I made a campus visit, I would get at least four or five calls and would answer the same four or five questions each time. It got repetitive, and they called day and night. I got so I knew what they were going to ask, and I’d say the exact same thing every time.
Nyheim Hines
They leaned on each other for normalcy, texting about their visits and frustrations.
Hines, who once imagined leaving North Carolina for college, surprised himself by choosing NC State after realizing how much he valued being close to home.
Meanwhile, Murphy, after a whirlwind two-week tour of Duke, South Carolina, UNC, Harvard, and Miami, found herself drawn to Duke’s team atmosphere.
We were the ones that were going away to school. And WE stayed home.
Sydnei Murphy
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Nyheim Arthur Hines, the son of Nannette Miller and Darrin Hines, was born on November 12, 1996, in Garner, North Carolina.
- His twin sister, Nyah, competed for the NC State track and field team.
- He has worked at Bojangles in the off-season to prepare for business after football.
- His net worth is estimated to be $7 million.
