For the first time since he joined the Miami Dolphins in 2022, wide receiver Tyreek Hill will not wear a captain’s patch on his jersey this season.
It isn’t exactly a shock. Hill’s 2024 season ended with the receiver removing himself from a Week 18 loss game and a pseudo trade request. While he apologized and walked back his controversial comments, even Hill knew that a fourth straight year as a Dolphins team captain was unlikely.
“I don’t feel like I deserve [to be captain] 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,” Hill told reporters back in May.
That came to fruition this week with the Dolphins choosing Tua Tagovailoa, Aaron Brewer, and Alec Ingold as their three offensive captains.
“I don’t need a title to be able to lead,” Hill told reporters Wednesday. “I’m going to continue to push the standard, what Coach and these guys are pushing in the locker room, and I’ve always been a guy that led by example. The captain thing is great, but like I said, I’m going to continue to do the small things which is work hard, show up each and every day and bust my tail for this team and try to win games.”
While Hill is no longer a captain, Dolphins players say any drama surrounding the receiver’s turbulent January is way in the rearview mirror. Tagovailoa told reporters that his friction with Hill was blown out of proportion and “that conversation is dead now.” Fellow wide receiver Jaylen Waddle said it’ll be business as usual once the season starts.
“They’re really piecing it together the last couple of practices,” Waddle said of Hill and Tagovailoa. “Came back, ain’t miss a step, their connection has been great. I think they was 100 percent two practices ago. So yeah, they look good.”
Hill recorded 319 receptions for 4,468 yards and 26 touchdowns in his first three seasons with the Dolphins. His 2024 was one of the least productive years of his career, though, with Hill finishing south of 1,000 yards for the first time since 2019.
