MIAMI GARDENS — The relationship Miami Dolphins star wide receiver Tyreek Hill has with his teammates isn’t one that will be repaired overnight — or even over an offseason.
Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa made some telling remarks Wednesday about how Hill functions with the rest of the team following his locker room outburst after last season’s finale in which the speedy veteran pass-catcher said he wanted out from the organization.
Fast-forward through an offseason in which he remained with the Dolphins, and as Miami started training camp with its first practice Wednesday, Tagovailoa revealed wounds remain from that moment in early January.
“It’s still a work in progress — not just for me, but for everybody,” Tagovailoa said, responding to a question about whether Hill still has to rebuild his relationship with teammates.
“Sure. I would say we’re still continuing to do that. But it’s not just with me. It’s with a lot of the guys. I’m not the only one that heard that. You guys aren’t the only people that heard that. A lot of people that follow football, that follow the Miami Dolphins, that follow Tyreek, that are fans of his — everyone has seen that. When you see something like that, you don’t just come back from that with, ‘Hey, my bad.’ You got to work that relationship. You got to build everything up again.”
On Tuesday, as Dolphins veterans reported for camp ahead of Wednesday’s first practice, Hill, who walked his end-of-season comments back within a month of blurting them out, took further ownership for his mistake.
“As a leader of this team and also as a leader of this community, I just need to be better in that sense,” Hill said.
The 10th-year pro who missed the Pro Bowl for the first time last season said he wants to focus strictly on football this year.
“He’s working on himself. He’s working on the things he says he wants to get better with and do better on. That’s the first step, for me, so I commend him on that,” Tagovailoa said Wednesday.
“I think there’s a lot more vulnerability with Tyreek. He’s conversing a lot more with the guys, not just about football, but about things off the field, being vulnerable with some of the things that people know about his personal life and things of that nature.
“I think that’s the first step to him building true relationships and a real connection with a lot of the guys in there. Everyone knows what he can do on the field, everyone respects what he can do on the field, but I think he’s still trying to figure things out for himself, as well.
“Everyone makes mistakes. It’s just, some people, they’re in a spotlight and their deals get pushed out more than some others. Just got to cut him some grace. That’s our teammate. We love him.”
For Tagovailoa, as he looks to rekindle his connection this season with both Hill and fellow starting wide receiver Jaylen Waddle, his primary concern this season has to be keeping himself healthy after missing six games in 2024.
“It’s a mindset thing for me,” Tagovailoa said Wednesday. “Is this the right thing to do in the heat of the moment where I got to make a split decision? Should I go for the first down? Should I not? Should I do this on fourth down? Should I not?
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“And then, given the circumstances — is it to get into the playoffs? Is it a must-win game? You got to throw all of those in there.”
Tagovailoa goes through a constant internal battle of fighting his desire to make a play for his team when he’s in the heat of the moment.
“I think the most important thing is I got to be more selfless instead of being selfish. I’m thinking this is what the guys want from me,” he said.
“Slide. Just get off the field, get another opportunity, and if that opportunity doesn’t prevail, you got the next week.”
When Tagovailoa missed four games in 2024 on injured reserve due to a concussion, he was scrambling and rammed his head into Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin.
It’s also vital that pass protection in front of Tagovailoa is strong to keep the quarterback upright. Right tackle Austin Jackson plays a critical role as the blind-side protector for the left-handed-throwing passer.
“The role I play is very important. I think I have to be at my best,” Jackson said. “I actually love having that role. I love having the responsibility. I don’t see it as a challenge.”
Tagovailoa also reacted to losing his beloved tight end from 2024, Jonnu Smith, this offseason.
“That’s my boy. I love Jonnu, but that’s how the league works,” he said. “I cant do anything about it. He did all he could to put himself in position to go to the team, negotiate, make all the money he needs to make to help set up his family.”
