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Tyreek Hill speaks at a press conference after a game against the Cleveland Browns
Tyreek Hill, a 10-year veteran for the Miami Dolphins, was excluded from the Dolphins captain list despite being on it for the last three years. Hill, a fast-paced wide receiver and an 8-time Pro Bowler, is known for his explosive speed and quick first step. Hill is a versatile receiver who runs exceptional routes, earning him big plays for the Dolphins. ESPN and fans call him “Cheetah” for his stat-breaking football attributes and quick feet. ESPN writer Marcel Louis-Jacques covered why Hill was not named a captain, “Hill himself suggested this offseason that he likely would not be a captain this year due to his actions at the end of the 2024 regular season, when he removed himself from the finale and hinted after the game that he wanted to play elsewhere,” said Louis-Jacques.
His actions created locker room tension between him and his teammates, as well as controversy between both fans and sports commentators. Despite his words, Hill never formally requested a trade but instead apologized last month for his actions, “I don’t feel like I deserve it. And if I didn’t get it, I wouldn’t dwell on it, I wouldn’t sweat it, because I put myself in that position,” said Hill.
The captains that were chosen for the Dolphins were quarterback, Tua Tagovailoa, center, Aaron Brewer, fullback, Alec Ingold, linebacker, Jordyn Brooks, defensive tackle, Zach Sieler, and pass rusher, Bradley Chubb.
“In July, Hill had worked with teammates to rebuild trust,” said Tagovailoa, while Dolphins coach Mike McDaniels said it was “more about the guys we picked and less about the guys we didn’t.” Hill looks to continue to build teammates’ trust and to continue to try and lead the team without the captain title this season. “It’s about the team, and I don’t need a title to be able to lead. I’m going to continue to push the standard that coach and these guys are pushing in the locker room. I’ve always been a guy that led by example,” said Hill in a press conference interview.
Hill is looking to change his mentality this season and even said in a press conference interview, “It was tough, man. Obviously emotions were high then, but at the end of the day, I’m just looking to move forward from that, hoping that I can prove myself and prove to my teammates that I’m still one of them ones, man, who’s chasing 2K [receiving yards], still one of those ones chasing playoff dreams and all of that great stuff.”
Hill said he’s been attending church and therapy outside of football to better himself after making lots of headlines off-field for things like domestic violence charges against his wife. With a changed outlook this offseason, Hill started to gain praise from the Dolphins staff for involving himself further with the team, even treating the receivers of the team to dinner.
“I’m doing more,” Hill said, “So just being more involved in that and then just understanding what the coach is trying to do. I feel like when I first got here, I wouldn’t say that I wasn’t all the way bought in…Everybody’s on the same page, man.”
Hill hopes to earn his captaincy back at one point in time, but he understands it comes with time and work, so for now, he will lead “by example,” said Hill, to try and push the Dolphins to the playoffs.
Sources: ESPN, NFL, NBC