Tyreek Hill rebuilding relationships with Tua Tagovailoa, Dolphins
Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa told reporters Wednesday that his relationship with Hill is a "work in progress."
Hill made headlines at the end of the 2024 season when he declared "I'm out" following the season finale.
"I'm out, bruh," Hill said after the loss to the Jets. "It was great playing here, but at the end of the day, I have to do what's best for my career."
Even after he explained later that it was an outburst of frustration, the comment still raised questions about his future in Miami. Evidently, it also fractured some of his relationships with Dolphins teammates.
"When you say something like that you don't just come back with 'My bad,'" Tagovailoa said. "You gotta work that relationship up. He is working on himself."
Tua Tagovailoa says Tyreek Hill rebuilding relationship with him & team is a 'work in progress' after Tyreek WK18 'I'm out' comment.Tua: 'When you say something like that you don't just come back with 'My bad.' You gotta work that relationship up. He is working on himself.' pic.twitter.com/acv6Fq2Eps
TYREEK HILL Dolphins WR is tired of narratives: 'Time to change who we are'
Tagovailoa also credited Hill with being "more vulnerable with his teammates about his personal life," according to NFL Network's Cameron Wolfe. However, "work needs to be done to show what he says."
Hill's Week 18 outburst came at the tail-end of a disappointing follow-up season to his excellent outing in 2023. After leading the league in receiving yards (1,799) and receiving touchdowns (13) two years ago, the Dolphins' star wideout finished the 2024 season with 959 receiving yards and a career-low six touchdowns. It was the first year of Hill's career without a Pro Bowl nod and his first season in Miami without All-Pro recognition.
Other issues likely contributed to a drop in production. There was the wrist injury Hill suffered in the preseason that he attempted to gut out without surgery, and there were the various injuries to Tagovailoa, resulting in six starts by other quarterbacks.
The Dolphins also missed the playoffs for the first time since Hill's arrival in Miami and had their first losing season since 2019.
"I've been winning my whole life," Hill said in a January video game livestream. "Y'all just want me to say, 'Oh well, get 'em next year?' Nah, (expletive) that. We've got to come back."
As Dolphins training camp begins, Hill remains on the roster and projects to be Tagovailoa's lead receiver, provided he's rebuilt that trust.
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