Dolphins receiver Tyreek Hill reveals he’s not his son’s favorite player
Tyreek Hill isn’t one of his son’s favorite players.
In fact, the eight-time Pro Bowler isn’t even that son’s favorite receiver.
That honor belongs to the Minnesota Vikings’ Justin Jefferson, according to Hill, who couldn’t help but share his disappointment on Tuesday.
“I was talking to my son on FaceTime last night and his mom was like ‘One of the kids came over to him as was like ‘You’re Tyreek Hill’s son,’’’ the Miami Dolphins wideout recalled. “He was like ’Nah, Justin Jefferson my dad.’”
Then came the sharp clap back from the 31-year-old star.
“’Well tell Justin Jefferson to take your ass to Disney World,’” Hill reportedly quipped.
Jefferson, of course, is one of the best wideouts in the league. The Minnesota Vikings standout has amassed 5,899 yards receiving during the first four years of his career, the most in NFL history across that span. That mark outpaces legends like Jerry Rice, Randy Moss and Larry Fitzgerald.
The flash that even further sets Jefferson apart — his signature diamond-tooth smile and touchdown celebrations — makes him an even more alluring figure, especially to younger generations.
Hill, however, appears intent to use his son’s comments as motivation in 2025.
“My sons be on my head,” Hill said, calling them “Justin Jefferson fanatics.” The perceived slights, he added, are “what keeps me hungry.”
This comes following a subpar 2024 season by his standards. His receiving yards (959) and catches (81) were the lowest since injuries caused him to miss four games in 2019. The nine-year veteran’s six touchdowns also tied a career-low.
A end-of-season outburst only made the Dolphins’ disappointing sub-.500 finish even worst.
“There are a lot of things I need to reassess about my career,” Hill said Jan. 5 after Miami’s 32-20 loss to the New York Jets. “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 [Tua Tagovailoa] .... 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.
“It was great playing here, but at the end of the day, I’ve got to do what’s best for my career. I’m too much of a competitor to be just out there.”
Hill, however, reaffirmed his commitment to Miami as he underwent a mini apology tour during Super Bowl week. And after offseason surgery to repair a fractured wrist, the nine-year veteran said that he’s more locked in than ever.
“Just being present,” Hill responded when asked what his newfound focus looks like. “Everyday on time. Doing things extra like catching footballs after practice, conditioning whenever I’m tired, being that vocal leader in the locker room for guys.”
Hill admitted to being a bit complacent at times but an offseason in which he had to “slow down my life a lot” gave him clarity.
“I got here through hard work but sometimes when you get to a certain spot in your life where you want to be, you’re kind of like, ‘It’s cool,’” Hill said. That, he added, wasn’t necessarily the right mindset. “I got to continue to grind.”
Hill has been a vital part of the Dolphins offense since he joined the team in 2022. His 4,468 yards over the past three seasons ranks first among all receivers. While the 2016 fifth-round pick’s off-the-field life has sometimes overshadowed his play, he has always found refuge in football.
“As a leader of this team and also a leader of this community, I just need to be better in that sense and just know that there’s a ton of little kids who look up to me as a player and as a role model,” Hill said, adding that he “matured a lot.” “I just got to remind myself of that.”
A healthy — and committed — Hill could prove scary for opposing defenses. With him at his peak, the Dolphins offense will be as good as any. It also might be just enough to steal Jefferson’s coveted spot as his son’s favorite player.
This story was originally published July 22, 2025 at 12:41 PM.
