Tyreek Hill released by Dolphins, Chiefs reunion chatter ignites as rehab continues
The Miami Dolphins released wide receiver Tyreek Hill on Monday, February 16, 2026 (ET), making the eight-time Pro Bowler a free agent while he continues rehab from a dislocated knee and torn ACL suffered in Week 4 of the 2025 season. The move opens one of the sport’s most intriguing free-agent storylines: a high-profile veteran coming off a major injury weighing his options between a fresh start and a potential homecoming.
Roster shakeup in Miami and immediate fallout
The release saves the team significant cap space, and it comes alongside additional roster moves as the organization reshapes its depth chart. Hill would have had $11 million become fully guaranteed later this month; his departure is expected to provide approximately $22. 8 million in savings. The veteran receiver’s tenure in Miami began with a blockbuster trade in 2022 and an immediate impact that included seasons of elite production and multiple first-team All-Pro honors.
In 54 games with the team, Hill totaled 340 receptions for 4, 733 yards and 28 touchdowns. He posted seasons of 1, 710 receiving yards and then a league-leading 1, 799 yards with 13 touchdowns in the following campaign, earning first-team All-Pro recognition in back-to-back years. The final full season before his injury saw a decline in big-play opportunities tied to quarterback health, offensive changes and a wrist problem that limited his deep-game usage.
Hill’s agent, Drew Rosenhaus, has stated that Hill is progressing in his rehabilitation and plans to return to play. If he does come back for an 11th NFL season, Hill will be 32 years old at the start of the 2026 campaign, a key consideration for teams weighing long-term investment against immediate impact.
Chiefs reunion talk gains momentum
Within hours of the release, a former Kansas City teammate publicly urged Hill to consider a reunion. Defensive tackle Chris Jones made an impassioned plea for Hill to come back to Kansas City, framing a return as a way to recapture the feel of the early successful Chiefs offenses. The idea of bringing Hill back has appeal beyond nostalgia: offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy’s return to Kansas City has created a sense of turning back the clock for that franchise, and adding a veteran with Hill’s speed and route-running pedigree would be a headline-grabbing move.
Realistically, Hill will not be the identical player he was in 2021; serious knee injuries change how players are deployed and how teams manage reps and risk. Still, defenders and personnel evaluators note that a healthy Hill could be as effective as many of the available alternatives, offering big-play potential and championship experience. The larger questions are timing of the recovery, how comfortable Hill is with a short-term deal, and whether both sides would accept a role tailored to preserving health while maximizing impact.
Next steps for Hill and interested teams
Hill now faces choices common to elite veterans coming off major injuries: test the open market and chase a new environment, or take a second-chance reunion where familiarity and fit could expedite a return to form. Teams evaluating Hill will balance medical reports, projected recovery timelines, and a desire to add a dynamic playmaker who can still stretch defenses even if used more sparingly than in his peak seasons.
For the Dolphins, the move clears space to address multiple roster priorities, including quarterback decisions and defensive upgrades. For Hill, the coming weeks will shape whether he returns to the franchise that helped make him a household name or begins the next chapter of his career elsewhere. Either path promises intense scrutiny and high stakes as a recovering star plots the next steps of a celebrated NFL career.
