Dolphins' Tyreek Hill takes Tua's words on the chin, says they 'were needed'

David Furones, South Florida Sun-Sentinel on Aug 1, 2025

Published in Football

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MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — When Miami Dolphins training camp started last week, quarterback Tua Tagovailoa took a hard stance on star wide receiver Tyreek Hill’s standing with the rest of the team after Hill took himself out of last season’s finale and then said he wanted out from the club.

Tagovailoa called Hill’s relationship with teammates to start this new football season “a work in progress.”

Hill spoke publicly for the first time since Tagovailoa revealed his feelings about the situation after Friday’s training camp practice, and the veteran eight-time Pro Bowl selection took his quarterback’s words on the chin.

“Tua’s comments were needed,” Hill said. “I mean, he’s obviously the leader of our team, so he sets the standard. So I’m just trying to be the best teammate, best version of myself for this team I can be, man, every day.”

Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel, who noted he has witnessed a “daily investment from Hill,” enjoyed seeing such candid exchange between veteran, future Hall of Fame wide receiver and his starting quarterback who continues to grow as a leader in his sixth season.

“I think it’s a well-known fact that Tua is the leader of our team and our locker room and is the franchise quarterback,” McDaniel said. “There’s a lot to be said about a leader saying the hard things. I think there’s a lot to be said about (Hill) and how clear they’ve been towards each other so that you can say these things and call a spade a spade. I see that as grown-man stuff.”

What is Hill doing differently this camp to earn that trust once again?

“Just showing up, man,” Hill said. “I feel like that’s the most important thing, being consistent.

“Just holding myself accountable. … Showing up to meetings, coming out here every day, busting my tail in practice. I think it’s important, man.

“If you want be able to leave a legacy, you got to be able to consistently do those kind of things.”

For one, Hill said, for the first time in his stellar NFL career, he is taking notes in meetings. Even if he already knows something, he takes it down.

That’s due in part to the impact new wide receivers coach Robert Prince has had, making sure to stay on top of the 31-year-old speedster.

“From the moment he got here, he has been getting on me and (Jaylen) Waddle’s nerves,” Hill said. “I think it’s great, though. That accountability piece is something that we needed, and then also pushing us every day.

“Having that extra piece, in coach, in our ear every day reminding us that we can be All-Pro, we can be Pro-Bowlers, we can help this team win playoff games — it’s important also. We all need that sometimes.”

Hill is also with the team for the opening period of stretch. Last season, he would do his own routine inside before joining teammates for a practice’s second period.

“Football is a team sport,” Hill said. “Whenever guys are able to see me come out here and stretch with them, it just keeps the engine rolling, you know what I’m saying, with the whole team.”

Hill insinuated that the one day he did have to miss team stretch it was to use the restroom.

As to why he wasn’t outside for stretch last season, Hill said he would be checking social media before coming out to the practice field.

Hill was outspoken Friday about one thing that needs to change in the offense in order for better execution in short-yardage situations: Go with physical backs instead of the small, speedy De’Von Achane on those plays.

“Take De’Von out on third down,” Hill said. “That’s my honest opinion. If it’s third-and-short, he’s not a power back. I’ll be telling him that in the locker room, but he swears he’s a power back. I love De’Von, but if I’m being honest, that’s why you got Jaylen Wright; that’s why you got Ollie Gordon — for those kind of situations.”

If the Dolphins’ run game can step it up a notch this year, with Wright, Gordon and camp standout Alexander Mattison complementing Achane, Hill understands the value that presents in opening things up for himself and Waddle on the outside.

“That opens it up a lot because teams aren’t able to sit in Cover-2,” Hill said. “I feel like, last year, teams primarily sat in Cover-2 because they feel we weren’t a run-first team.”

On a separate topic, Hill said he’s upset with his Madden rating of 95, making him the video game’s fifth-best wide receiver in the NFL this season. He said he and fellow wideout Jaylen Waddle, who received an 85 rating, are boycotting the game this year. The two had words for former NFL wide receiver Chad Johnson, a visitor at Friday’s practice who consults the Madden video game as a rating adjuster.