Dolphins set to release 8-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Tyreek Hill

C. Isaiah Smalls II, Miami Herald on Feb 16, 2026

Published in Football

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MIAMI — One of the most productive wide receivers in Miami Dolphins history will have to find work elsewhere in 2026.

The Dolphins will release star wideout Tyreek Hill, a source confirmed to the Miami Herald Monday morning, bringing to end a tumultuous four-year tenure in South Florida. Hill, who turns 32 in March, has been in recovery from a gruesome knee injury that he suffered in late September.

With no guaranteed money owed to him in 2026, Hill was always expected to be released. Now, his release created $22.9 million in space. Hill is now an unrestricted free agent for this time in his decade-long career.

At his peak, Hill was arguably the most electric receiver to ever don the aqua and orange, racking up 4,733 receiving yards and 27 touchdowns on 340 catches. Still, a slew of off-the-field issues have consistently followed Hill throughout his Dolphins career.

The Dolphins received Hill in March 2022 via an offseason trade with the Kansas City Chiefs. His arrival corresponded with an immediate influx of offensive firepower in Miami, especially with coach Mike McDaniel at the helm, as the Dolphins signed him to a four-year, $120 million contract that made him the highest-paid wideout in the league at the time.

“I don’t blink, dawg,” Hill said at his opening press conference. “I don’t believe in pressure, dawg. I make the pressure. I’m Pushin’ P, baby. Hey, you know what that means? You know what Pushin’ P means? So look, this is what you do. When you get in your car, go to Apple Music. Type in ‘Pushin’ P Gunna.’ And then I want you to bob your head to that.”

Hill responded to the contract with one of the best seasons of his career, catching 119 balls for 1,710 yards and seven touchdowns as the Dolphins finished 9-8 and snuck into the playoffs. In that postseason matchup against the Buffalo Bills, Hill finished with seven catches for 69 yards in that 34-31 loss.

The offseason ahead of the 2023 season began relatively calm as the Dolphins prepared for the second year under McDaniel. In June 2023, however, Miami-Dade police investigated Hill after he allegedly hit a Haulover Beach Marina worker. The two sides later reached a settlement.

Hill followed up his first season in Miami with a record year that saw the star wideout nearly vie for 2,000 yards. In the end, Hill finished with a league-leading 1,799 yards receiving and 13 touchdowns to go along with 119 catches. His 1,799 yards ranked seventh in NFL history.

Although the Dolphins once again were bounced in the first round of the 2023 NFL playoffs, there were still high hopes in Miami. The trio of Hill, Jaylen Waddle and Tua Tagovailoa appeared to have finally found their groove. A third year in McDaniel’s system could only benefit all parties involved.

The 2024 season subsequently began with a horrific video: a Miami-Dade forcibily removing Hill from his vehicle outside Hard Rock Stadium only to later handcuff the Dolphins star. This all occurred prior to the Dolphins’ Week 1 matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars when Miami-Dade police detained Hill for alleged traffic and seatbelt violations. He was subsequently released yet the incident shed light on racial profiling as Hill’s charges were later dismissed.

Hill, however, turned in one of the worst seasons of his career, catching 81 balls for 959 yards and six touchdowns. The Dolphins, in turn, fell to 8-9 on the season, leading to Hill’s impromptu trade request following the 32-20 loss to the New York Jets in the season finale.

“There are a lot of things I need to reassess about my career,” Hill said in Jan. 2025. “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 and the Dolphins eventually made up as the star wideout would go on a bit of an apology tour. Still, the 2025 season was not without allegations, this time stemming from his ex-wife Keeta Vaccaro who accused Hill of domestic violence when she filed for divorce in September 2025, claims that his attorney denied.

The 2025 season ended after just four games for Hill after he dislocated knee and tore his ACL during the Week 4 matchup against the New York Jets. He had just 21 catches for 265 yards and a touchdown at the time.

Although it’s unclear when Hill will be back from injury, he will likely be a premiere addition to any contender in need of wide receiver help. Hill, however, has recently speculated retirement during a late October episode of “The Set” podcast.

“At the end of the day, I feel like that decision is based upon how I feel and where my mindset is at the moment,” Hill told his former teammate and podcast host Terron Armstead. “I’m happy with the career that I’ve had. I love playing football. I love it, but it takes a lot. It takes a lot on you mentally, it takes a lot on you physically.”

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