Coach Mike McDaniel hopes to have ‘better version’ of Tyreek Hill in 2025 season
Tyreek Hill will be a Miami Dolphin in 2025.
At least that’s according to Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel.
“I can certainly say with certainty that at this certain moment,” McDaniel said when asked if Hill will be on the team, later adding “We are fully planning to move forward for a better version of our relationship with Tyreek.”
Despite speculations that Hill might be traded, McDaniel confirmed that the star receiver will be on the team in 2025. The coach, however, just wants a better version of the nine-year veteran.
“I know what has been put on display during the regular season when we had a fully attacking Tyreek Hill in the offseason – being the pace car for all the sprints, all those things – and I full expect to get a better version of that horse that is the reason that he was voted captain,” McDaniel said. “That’s the been the biggest thing: there’s been a lot of work that we don’t publicize.”
Added McDaniel: “No one’s entitled to anything, including myself.”
That confirmation came nearly four months after Hill checked himself out of the game and then gave an infamous diatribe following the Dolphins’ season-ending loss to the New York Jets.
“There are a lot of things I need to reassess about my career,” Hill said prior to seemingly requesting a trade. “Just see what I need to do to continue to get better as a player so I can continue to reach that 1,000-yard mark. It [stinks] missing QB 1.... I’ve got to do what’s best for me and my family, whether that’s here or wherever the case may be. I’m opening the door. I’m out, bro.”
Hill subsequently made a few inferences about his departure via social media. One of his more egregious actions: changing his profile picture to that of then-Tampa Bay Buccaneers receiver Antonio Brown when he left the field mid-game. McDaniel and the rest of the Dolphins decision-makers reportedly made it very clear his actions were unacceptable.
“We discussed multiple things, including, without wavering that it’s not acceptable to leave the game and won’t be tolerated in the future and he embraced accountability,” McDaniel said in his end-of-season news conference on Jan. 7. “I wouldn’t say there is anything to fix as much as we had to clear the air.”
Hill made a point to apologize during the week prior to the Super Bowl.
“I don’t wanna go nowhere,” Hill told “Up and Adams” host Kay Adams on Feb. 7. “I love it [in South Florida]. My family loves it. My kids absolutely love being on the beach every morning. It’s an amazing thing.”
Added Hill: “[quarterback] Tua [Tagovailoa] is my guy. Always will be my guy, no matter what. I’m sure he understands my frustration. We all want to win. Tua is another competitor. He’s a hell of a competitor and a lot of people don’t know that. He’s a winner and is consistent. I’m looking forward to us continuing to build our relationship even more. This is my public apology to you Tua. I love you bro.”
Hill’s agent Drew Rosenhaus later attributed the outburst to a specific issue: a right wrist injury that had plagued the star all year. Rosenhaus specifically mentioned that doctors recommended Hill have surgery which he declined because of him being “a team guy.”
“This hampered him all year long and he deserves a lot of credit,” Rosehaus told ESPN. He also reaffirmed Hill’s commitment to the Dolphins. “Tyreek is very passionate. Anyone I ever represented that was great was passionate. They cared. What you see with Tyreek is very genuine. He wants to win. It’s not good enough for him not to make the playoffs.”
McDaniel later confirmed Hill’s ailment during the NFL Combine.
“He had surgery on his wrist,” McDaniel said Feb. 25. “It was a ligament issue; it wasn’t a broken wrist. He’s scheduled to be running very soon, in which he’ll be relying upon that in his training until he can catch the football which will be more around summertime going into training camp.”
As far as Hill’s time table for return, McDaniel didn’t offer any details other than that Hill still has the ability to run.
“We won’t rush it so there won’t really be setbacks but we’ll gradually work him into catching the football and going through that process so that at the end of the offseason program, we should be able to get that work that we were unable to do the season before,” McDaniel said. “But the key thing is that he can run now.”
