Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill seemingly burned more than a few bridges with his words and his actions during his team’s 32-20 loss to the New York Jets in the 2024 season finale back on Jan. 5.
Hill was pulled from the game in the fourth quarter by head coach Mike McDaniel, who insinuated after the loss that Hill had quit on his team after seemingly refusing to enter into the game.
Once the team was in the locker room, Hill sounded off about his frustration with the team and hinted that he wanted out of Miami.
“This is my first time I haven’t been in the playoffs,” Hill told reporters, via NFL.com. “I just got to do what’s best for me and my family. If that’s here or wherever the case may be, I’m [fixing to] open that door for myself. I’m opening the door. I’m out, bro.
“It was great playing here, but at the end of the day, bro, I got to do what’s best for my career. I’m too much of a competitor to be just out there.”
And while Hill has since walked back his remarks, stating he regrets saying what he did and reaffirming his commitment to the Dolphins ahead of the season, the players in that locker room haven’t been so quick to move on.
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Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa appeared to put Hill on notice, disclosing many of Hill’s teammates, including himself, haven’t forgotten what he said just a few months ago.
“It’s not just with me; it’s with a lot of the guys,” Tagovailoa said, via NFL.com. “I’m not the only one that heard that. You guys aren’t the only people who heard that. A lot of people that follow football, that follow the Miami Dolphins, that follow Tyreek, that are fans of his.
“Everyone has seen that. So when you say something like that, you don’t just come back that with, ‘Hey, my bad.’ You’ve got to work that relationship up. You’ve got to build everything up again.”
Tagovailoa was also asked whether or not he’d forgiven Hill for his harsh comments and what the relationship between the two looks like currently.
“It’s still a work in progress,” Tagovailoa continued. “Not just for me, but for everybody. Like I said, he’s working on himself. He’s working on the things he says he wants to get better with and do better on. That’s the first step to me. I commend him for doing that.”
Though Tagovailoa missed six games last year due to an early season concussion, there’s no question Hill is a much more productive WR when his QB is healthy.
Hill averaged 5.1 receptions and 63.1 yards receiving in 11 games with Tagovailoa under center and 4.1 catches and 44.2 yards receiving without him. All six of his touchdowns also came in games Tagovailoa started.