The Miami Dolphins announced the release WR Tyreek Hill on Monday, and with a talented receiver on the open market, there’s been plenty of analysts floating Pittsburgh as a potential landing spot for the former All-Pro. The Steelers have a big need at receiver, and Hill is a big name who could be one of the most talented players on the free agent market.
It’s an easy connection to make, but the Steelers may not be an ideal match for Hill. For one, he’s on the wrong side of 30, and he’s coming off a serious knee injury that included damage to multiple ligaments, which is never ideal for a player whose game is so predicated on speed. On top of that, Hill is still subject to an NFL investigation.
Per Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, the NFL confirmed in an email on Tuesday that its investigation into whether Hill violated its personal conduct policy is still open. The investigation stems from allegations of domestic abuse from Hill’s ex-wife, and it’s not the first time Hill’s found himself in hot water due to violence against women.
While Hill has yet to be suspended by the NFL, he was investigated in 2019 after allegations of child abuse and prior to his NFL career was arrested and charged with domestic assault and battery by strangulation after an incident with his then-pregnant girlfriend. It’s unknown whether the NFL will take Hill’s prior conduct or prior investigations into account when it comes to this case. Regardless, there’s a chance that Hill could be suspended for some portion of the 2026 season.
That should be reason enough for the Steelers to stay away from him. Florio reported in September that the Steelers, after having some initial interest, cooled on trading for Hill due to his legal situation and the NFL investigation. If the Steelers weren’t interested during the season, it wouldn’t make much sense for them to be interested now.
The Steelers still need to add at wide receiver, and they’ll likely do so through both free agency and the 2026 NFL Draft. But an aging receiver whose production has dipped, is coming off a major injury and is still under investigation and at risk of missing games due to suspension next season isn’t the route the team should take to bolster its receiver room.
Recommended for you