Four years ago, Tyreek Hill landed in Miami and lit the NFL on fire. He gave Dolphins fans some of the most electric moments the franchise had seen in years. But his final chapter turned painful. In Week 4 of the 2025 season, a brutal knee injury against the New York Jets on September 29 cut his year short and left his future uncertain. Miami never recovered, finishing 7-10 and missing the playoffs entirely.
On February 16, 2026, with a rebuild underway, the Dolphins made the hard call and released one of the NFL’s most electrifying wide receivers just weeks before free agency opened. Hill’s four-chapter Miami story was over. But what he said next left everyone watching.
Tyreek Hill Drops Honest Reaction to Dolphins Move
The Dolphinsreleased eight-time Pro Bowl WR Hill with a failed physical designation as part of a sweeping roster overhaul led by new general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan and head coach Jeff Hafley. Hill was set to carry a $51.1 million cap hit in 2026, making his release a straightforward financial decision that saved the team $22.8 million in cap space. The new leadership wasted no time pushing a full rebuild after Miami missed the playoffs in back-to-back seasons.
Tyreek Hill Reacts to Being Cut by the Dolphins After 4 Years
Tyreek Hill Reacts to Being Cut by the Dolphins After 4 Years (Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images)
Hillarrived in Miami via trade from the Kansas City Chiefs on March 23, 2022, signing a four-year, $120 million extension that made him the highest-paid wide receiver in the NFL at the time. His first season brought 119 catches, 1,710 yards, and 7 touchdowns, helping the Dolphins reach the playoffs.
In 2023, he was the best receiver in football, finishing with 119 catches for a then-career high 1,799 yards and 13 touchdowns, leading the NFL in both categories. A wrist issue and Tua Tagovailoa’s early injury hurt his 2024 output, dropping him to 959 yards and six scores.
Then 2025 ended in Week 4 when Hill dislocated his left knee and tore his ACL against the Jets, limiting him to just 21 catches for 265 yards and one touchdown in four games.
His response on Instagram showed no bitterness. “Every chapter in life has taught me something,” Hillwrote. “This one taught me leadership, resilience, and mostly gratitude. The Cheetah don’t slow down. Ever. So to everyone wondering what’s next, just wait on it. The Cheetah will be back. Born Again.”
In 54 games as a Dolphin, Hill totaled 340 catches, 4,733 yards, and 28 touchdowns. Now his farewell message to the fans who cheered every step tells the rest of the story.
Tyreek Hill Thanks Fins Nation
Hill saved his most personal words for Fins Nation. “From the bottom of my heart, thank you to the entire Miami Dolphins organization, my teammates, the staff, and most importantly Fins Nation, for an unforgettable four years,” hewrote on Instagram. “From the moment I landed in Miami, I felt the love. You believed in me. You pushed me. You celebrated with me. These past few years have been some of the most meaningful of my life and career.”
He also thanked his “brothers in the locker room” and the coaching staff before closing with a South Florida salute: “Major Love to the 305.” The warmth in his words matched the energy Fins fans gave him from day one, making the goodbye feel more like a tribute than an exit.
Hill now enters free agency for the first time in his NFL career, rehabbing his knee and chasing one more shot. A return to Kansas City to reunite with Patrick Mahomes tops the early speculation, with several contenders likely to monitor his recovery closely this spring.