Why there's a better chance for a Tyreek Hill-Chiefs reunion than in years past

Pete Grathoff, The Kansas City Star on Jan 30, 2026

Published in Football

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KANSAS CITY, Mo. — It’s been nearly four years since the Chiefs traded wide receiver Tyreek Hill to the Dolphins, and every so often we’ve seen a familiar pattern.

Hill would hint at wanting to leave Miami and/or return to the Chiefs, and some fans in Kansas City would call for general manager Brett Veach to make a trade to bring him back.

However, Hill’s contract made that impossible. Hill signed a four-year, $120 million deal after the trade to Miami. Shortly before the start of the 2024 season, Hill agreed to a restructured deal worth $90 million over the next three years that included $65 million in guaranteed money, ESPN reported.

Hill, who is rehabbing following a knee injury, reignited interest among some of Chiefs Kingdom with a message on social media.

“EB to the chiefs hm,” he wrote on X after Eric Bieniemy returned as offensive coordinator.

That had Chiefs fans dreaming of Hill coming back to Kansas City.

Facing a $51.9 million cap hit, per Spotrac, the Dolphins are expected to release Hill before March 13 and he will become a free agent.

This time, however, a return to KC could make sense for the Chiefs, who have the worst salary-cap situation of any team heading into the 2026 season. Over The Cap shows the Chiefs already are projected to be $62.4 million in the red.

Hill’s contract with the Dolphins wouldn’t carry over to the Chiefs if he’s released. And the Chiefs have an option that could bring back Hill at a reasonable cost, should he agree to it.

The NFL has a “veteran salary benefit” option that may work for the Chiefs and Hill.

This is an explanation about what that is from the NFL Operations website: “The veteran salary benefit allows teams to offer a ‘Qualifying Contract’ to any player with at least four credited seasons at a reduced salary-cap hit. Under this provision, a qualifying contract is a one-year deal worth the minimum base salary applicable to a player with his number of credited seasons, plus $167,500 in additional compensation (i.e., signing bonus, roster bonus, incentive, etc.). These contracts are charged against the salary cap at the rate of a player with two credited seasons that league year.”

The Buffalo Bills used the “veteran salary benefit” on wide receiver Laviska Shenault Jr. last season. According to the Buffalo Rumblings blog, Shenault had a $1.17 million contract with $40,000 in bonuses. His cap hit was just $1.07 million.

That would be a substantial pay decrease for Hill, but he is coming off a serious knee injury. Even if he thinks a “veteran salary benefit” is too little money, Hill would show his desire to return to the Chiefs is real if he agrees to a different team-friendly deal.