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began writing FanPosts on The Phinsider in 2009 before being added as a contributing author in 2010. He became the managing editor of the site in July 2011. He is a lifelong Dolphins fan and tries to always maintain a level-headed approach to covering the team.
Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill made headlines on Sunday when he appeared to take himself out of the team’s Week 18 game against the New York Jets, then indicated after the game he is looking to move on from the Dolphins. Hill, speaking to the media immediately after Miami’s 32-20 loss to New York, said, “ For me, I have to do what’s best for me and my family. If that’s here, or if that’s wherever the case may be. I’m fixing to open that door for myself. I’m opening the door. I’m out. It was great playing here, but at the end of the day, I have to do what’s best for my career.”
That did not sit well with Dolphins fans. For Dolphins players, they seemed to want to keep clear of the drama, even if they did not agree with Hill’s comments.
Hill, elected as a team captain, finished the year with 81 receptions for 959 yards and six touchdowns. It marked the first time he was below 1,000 yards receiving since an injury-shortened 2019 season. This was also the first time in his career Hill was not selected to the Pro Bowl. Hill, it seems, did not take well to his low statistical performance this season, adding in his post-game comments, “I’m too much of a competitor to be just out there.”
On Monday, Dolphins players had exit interviews with the coaching staff. While a lot of the discussion was about how the team can improve for next year, when some of the players met with the media, the talk quickly turned to Hill’s actions and comments.
“I’m not going to speak for Tyreek respectfully,” tight end Jonnu Smith said. “Tyreek spoke for himself. I can only speak for myself. We’re all men. We all feel differently about certain things. We handle situations differently and rightfully so he handled the situation how he felt he should’ve handled it.”
Defensive tackle Zach Sieler took a similar tone in replying to the media, saying, “Yeah, I saw [Hill’s comments]. I think everyone has their own voice and if that’s what he wants to say, that’s what he wants to say. I have all the respect for him as a player. If that’s how he feels, that’s how he feels. So we’ll leave it at that.”
Sieler then added, “Obviously, it’s a knee-jerk reaction. That stuff happens and I don’t know what happened. I’m not going to speak for him or speak on that. That’s his own decision, but I know as a team that we need to stay focused this year on making sure everyone’s here and making sure we’re on time and we’re focused on winning it all next year and making the corrections from this season going into OTAs and camp this year.”
Fullback Alec Ingold seemed to want to write off Hill’s comments, but also wanted to see things handled differently. He explained, “I think Tyreek is an emotional guy and he’s a competitor like a lot of us are. You get to know a guy like that over a few seasons. I’m upset that things had to be shared the way they were, but at the end of the day, I have a lot of respect for him, obviously sharing a lot of time in the lockers with him. The practice field, the game field, just seeing his light and his energy; he’s a really great teammate that I’ve had the fortune to play against and then play with as well. I think a lot of guys were emotional after the game so I’m going to take that with a grain of salt. Obviously we’re going to continue to have conversations, but he’s a great competitor, great teammate, and yeah, we’ll see what the offseason brings.”
Linebacker Bradley Chubb, who missed the entire season with an ACL injury sustained near the end of the 2023 season, was a little more blunt with his reaction to Hill. According to the Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson, Chubb, when asked about Hill, replied, “Disappointed for sure but at the end of the day, you’ve got to move on with the guys who want to be here, who will continue to fight.”
The Hill drama will likely continue throughout the offseason as the Dolphins and their wide receiver figure out what 2025 looks like and if they will stay together for another year. If they are headed toward a divorce, the Dolphins may have to wait to make it happen until just before training camps open. Hill’s contract, which was reworked in August to adjust the money and bump Hill back to being among the top paid wideouts in the league, prevents the team from releasing him. According to OverTheCap.com, Miami would be on the hook for nearly $56 million in dead money if they were to cut Hill. A trade could be worked out, but the Dolphins would eat $28.3 million in dead money, just over the $27.7 million Hill would account against the cap in 2025 if he were on the Dolphins’ roster. If the trade were made after June 1, Miami could see about $15 million in savings this year, but would still have to account for the other $13 million in the 2026 salary cap year.
