Dolphins’ Tyreek Hill explains his unique reaction to graphic knee injury and why he’s unsure of NFL future
Miami Dolphins star wide receiver Tyreek Hill saw his season come to a screeching halt in Week 4 when the eight-time Pro Bowl wide receiver suffered a devastating knee injury in the win over the New York Jets. Hill dislocated his knee and tore several ligaments, including his ACL.
When Hill was loaded onto the cart and driven off the field, he was seen clapping and smiling. Hill greeted the crowd and also blew kisses to fans. It was a strange reaction after a painful season-ending injury, but there was a reason behind it.
During a recent appearance on Terron Armstead’s podcast, “The Set,” Hill said that after realizing his leg was “twisted,” he immediately felt grateful for all the incredible moments football gave him and thought about the time he would now have to spend with his family.
“So I immediately started laughing, man, because I feel like I’ve been able to play this game my whole life, and I’ve been blessed with great talents and great gifts, and the support I get from my family is incredible, man,” Hill said. “I wasn’t even thinking about the injury. I was just thinking about the good times I had playing that game and just being in Miami. It’s come full circle. I know it wasn’t that, but I was just happy bro. Because I always try to find the good in everything. I have time to think about my kids, I have time to travel, I have time to really sit back and enjoy my life and not always train myself. “
Hill said his whole life has been about training, living in the gym, on the track, on the jug machine. He didn’t sacrifice his time for his family or other things he wanted to do. Now he has the opportunity to be closer to his children, go to church on Sundays and improve himself off the field.
Any time a 31-year-old speedster suffers an injury like Hill’s, it’s fair to wonder if his football career could be over. Armstead asked what Hill’s response was to the skeptics, and he had a pretty surprising but honest answer.
“Well, at the end of the day, I feel like this decision is entirely based on how I feel and my state of mind at the time,” Hill said. “Right now, I’m happy. I’m happy to be with my kids, I’m happy with the career that I’ve had. I love playing soccer. I love it, but it takes a lot. It takes a lot to be the best and stay at the top and make a lot of money and help your team win games and things like that. It takes a lot. It takes a lot out of you mentally, it takes a lot out of you physically. I’m at the point now where I have to have a conversation with mom, the family, all world… I don’t want to make any rash decisions, obviously. I just want to be in the moment.”
Hill says rehab is going well and he’s attacking every day. Following the injury, Hill’s agent, Drew Rosenhaus, said the goal was to be ready for Week 1 in 2026. When or if Hill returns, it likely won’t be with the Dolphins.
CBS Sports NFL Insider Jonathan Jones reported that the Dolphins should release Hill before the new league year begins in March. Hill has $29.9 million in unguaranteed base salary on the books next year, but $16 million is guaranteed on the third day of the new league year, March 14, 2026.
While Hill’s football career is over, it was a remarkable journey. “Cheetah” was the fastest catcher of his era. He won a Super Bowl with the Kansas City Chiefs, was named first-team All-Pro five times and led the NFL in receiving yards and touchdowns in 2023. In six of Hill’s 10 NFL seasons, he broke 1,000 receiving yards. In his first two seasons with Miami, Hill became the first player in NFL history to pass for 1,700 receiving yards multiple times and catch 20 total touchdowns.
As Hill explained, now is not the time to make a decision on his football future. It’s about living in the moment off the field.
