Tyreek Hill, the Miami Dolphins’ star wide receiver, will not be captain in the 2025 season. This decision is a major reversal for the agency under this team. Since arriving in 2022, this is the first time that Hill has not been left out of the captaincy. Her teammates had elected other leaders. To this end, this decision highlights the extent to which Hill’s recent remarks and behavior have poisoned the well on the team.
In a shocking turn late in the 2024 regular season, Hill chose the path of walking away from the finale. This truly unprecedented move surprised pretty much everyone. His overwhelming desire after the game was to leave, to look toward other opportunities. He never made a formal trade request. A month later, he admitted he was wrong for saying that. His public apology was a powerful first step toward making amends to a locker room in disarray.
Hill’s behavior caused a growing leadership division within the locker room between teammates, forcing them to vote for team captains without his involvement. In response to the vote that just took place, Coach Mike McDaniel mentioned the importance of being a team filled with diversity.
“I’m really excited about the whole voting process in general this year,” – Coach Mike McDaniel
He elaborated, stating, “This team was much more unified, and the focus on those six guys was very clear — those were resounding vote-getters.” McDaniel highlighted that they aimed to grant captaincy to players who demonstrate consistent leadership, adding, “We were focused on giving the keys to captaincy to guys that had earned it each and every day. That’s what speaks to me the most is a football team that knows who it wants to be led by.”
Amid all the craziness, Hill made it back to practice last week, as he recovered from an oblique injury he suffered in early August. This gives him a pretty small window before he would need to actually be on the field for Sunday’s game against the Indianapolis Colts. Between his presence at linebacker and on special teams, this season’s return should help put Miami in a good position to win their upcoming matchups.
Hill’s omission from the captaincy is expected to resonate throughout the season, as it reflects shifting dynamics within the Dolphins’ locker room. The absence of such a prominent player as a captain is notable, particularly given his high-profile status within the franchise. His teammates all look forward to a new beginning. They’re dedicated to working together and working as one, as they chase their dreams this fall and beyond.
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