It’s no secret Tyreek Hill was one of the best players to ever don the aqua and orange.
From 2022 to 2025, Hill was the focal point of the Miami Dolphins’ offense, racking up two Pro Bowls, a pair of All-Pros and even the honor of top spot of the NFL Top 100, the first receiver to earn that.
With Hill designated for free agency following Monday’s release, his on-field, Dolphins legacy deserves to be explored.
“I want to change the game forever,” Hill told the Miami Herald in August 2024.
Added Hill: “I want to set the bar,” Hill said. “I want to be the standard.”
When it comes to all-time players, Hill likely doesn’t rank that favorably. He’s not Dan Marino. He’s not Bob Griese. And he’s certainly not Larry Csonka. The latter two helped engineer the Dolphins’ back-to-back Super Bowl victories in 1972 and 1973 while Marino has an argument for the most talented quarterback to ever throw a pass.
Flip to the other side of the ball, and he’s no Jason Taylor nor Zach Thomas. Again, playoff success comes into play but also longevity: Taylor and Thomas spent 13 and 12 years, respectively in Miami. Their legacies in South Florida as essentially Dolphins lifers also put them in a class of their own.
The better argument, however, might be where Hill sits among all Dolphins receivers. For that, it’s best to dissect the numbers.
Base the argument on receiving yards, catches or touchdowns and Hill’s numbers don’t compare. His 4,733 yards rank seventh. His 340 catches rank eighth. And his 27 touchdowns rank seventh.
Dig a little deeper and two things will stand out. For starters, Hill only had his quarterback Tua Tagovailoa for 11 games in 2024, a number which his final numbers — 81 catches for 959 yards — ultimately reflect. Hill’s following season unfortunately ended after four games as the wideout dislocated his knee and tore his ACL during the Week 4 victory the New York Jets.
Hill, however, begins to gain ground when considering his per-game averages. The eight-time Pro Bowler sits atop the Dolphins’ list with his 87.6, more than 13 yards greater than the No. 2 spot (Brandon Marshall).
“He’s one of one,” Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel said. “He’s a shorter player that doesn’t play small, and that is his edge.”
The star receiver also has the single-best receiving season in Dolphins history. In 2023, Hill not only broke his own franchise record for receiving yards with 1,799, he tied the mark that he set the previous year for receptions with 119. His eight 100-yard receiving games in 2023 also tie the mark that Mark Duper set in 1986.
Take a look outside the organization and two things become noteworthy about his record-setting 2023 season. First, Hill’s 2023 ranks seventh all-time in single-season receiving yards. Even more impressive: Hill remains the only player whose name appears twice within 15 best receiving seasons.
In fact, Hill’s 3,509 receiving yards from 2022 to 2023 happen to be one of the best two-season stretches in NFL history. Consider this: Hill ranks third behind Antonio Brown (3,532) from 2014-15 and Calvin Johnson (3,645) from 2011-12. The former Dolphins wideout also remains the only one in NFL history to post back-to-back seasons with more than 1,700 yards receiving.
As Hill continues to rehab from his knee injury, his on-the-field legacy is worth praise. For many, Hill provided a spark that made him must-watch TV. The Pro Football Hall of Fame is a definite possibility. Despite a slight flirtation with retirement, he will suit up in 2026. The only question is where and how will he look.
Can Tyreek still be Tyreek?
“Coming from a small town, just being able to make it to the NFL was the greatest accomplishment for myself. In the grand scheme of things you really don’t think about Hall of Fame and that stuff until that moment happens,” Hill said. “But it would be amazing for me to be immortalized.”