Miami Dolphins star wide receiver Tyreek Hill appeared to quit on his team in the middle of the game during their season-ending loss to the New York Jets on Sunday afternoon. But head coach Mike McDaniel did not really seem to want to talk about it after the game.
In his postgame press conference, Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel admitted that Tyreek Hill declined to enter the game despite being physically able to play.
“I was informed that he was unavailable right before a drive,” McDaniel said, as reported by Pro Football Talk. “I was not informed that it was a new injury, and I think at that point of time my focus was on the players and I didn’t take the time to go and try and figure out more into that. There were guys on the field that were competing, and we were trying to win a game, so my focus was there.”
However, when asked directly whether Hill had pulled himself from the game, McDaniel didn’t provide a definitive response.
“I was informed he wasn’t available, and I didn’t really have the time to dig more into that and we’ll see what comes of that after watching the tape and talking to coaches and the training staff,” McDaniel explained.
McDaniel was also pressed on how he learned of Hill’s unavailability, but he didn’t really disclose all that many details.
“It was discussed by the coaching staff on the headset and the play clock was running, so I moved on and called plays for people that were out there,” McDaniel said.
When Hill was questioned about the situation, he initially claimed he had been “dealing with a little issue” throughout the season and suggested that “coach kind of pulled me out.”
However, when asked directly if McDaniel benched him due to a wrist injury, Hill’s explanation shifted.
Instead, Hill implied that he lost interest in continuing to play once the team’s playoff hopes were dashed.
“Just one of those issues, man, that like you know, you look up at the scoreboard, Chiefs are down [to the Broncos] and it’s like, OK,” Hill said.
To make matters worse for the Dolphins, Hill didn’t just appear to check out during the game—he gave the impression that he’s ready to part ways with the team entirely.
Following the game, Hill made his intentions for the offseason clear, stating, “I’m out, bruh.”
“I don’t even know, bruh,” Hill said, per Omar Kelly of the Miami Herald. “This is my first time I haven’t been in the playoffs, man, so, I mean, for me, I’ve just got to do what’s best for me and my family. If that’s here, or wherever the case may be — I’m [about to] open that door for myself.
“Yeah, I’m opening the door — I’m out, bruh,” Hill continued. “So, it was great playing here, but at the end of the day, I’ve got to do what’s best for my career and what’s best — because I’m too much of a competitor to be just out there.”
It seems likely that this marks the end of Hill’s tenure in Miami.
