Tyreek Hill explains why he left Patrick Mahomes to join rival Miami Dolphins

01 November 2023 , 19:26

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Wide receiver Tyreek Hill's trade from the Kansas City Chiefs to the Miami Dolphins surprised many observers (Image: Dylan Buell/Getty Images))

Tyreek Hill has admitted the real reason he joined the Miami Dolphins was due to his agent pushing for a renegotiation of his Kansas City Chiefs contract.

The wide receiver is set for an emotional reunion with Patrick Mahomes and his old teammates in Germany but his move might never have happened. In fact, Hill has openly admitted he never wanted to leave the Chiefs following their triumphant 2022 season. Speaking to ex-NFL legend Brandon Marshall on the 'I Am Athlete' podcast, the 29-year-old gave an honest account of how his shock trade came about.

It seems the genesis for the eventual move would come via the advice of agent Drew Rosenhaus to negotiate a new deal. However, this show of brinkmanship would ultimately backfire, even if his representative had assured him he would not be traded. Still, Hill was clear he was not eager to turn his back on the Chiefs, before negotiations began between Rosenhaus and the Chiefs.

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"To be honest it was a situation where my agent was trying to bait Kansas City into giving me a contract," Hill said. "The idea was to never leave KC. That was the first thing I told my agent, by the way." The four-time All Pro told Marshall that he had informed his agent: "As long as I don't get traded, because we just lost in the AFC Championship," adding what his true intentions were at the time, as he asserted: "I'm trying (to) get back at the Bengals."

However, his agent's apparent masterplan would soon start to unravel, with Hill revealing that Rosenhaus was 'going for the jugular' with the Chiefs. Having already given him his word that he would not be traded, though, he would insist that his client deserved 'at least $70million (£58m)' in any new deal.

Wide Receiver Tyreek Hill's trade to the Miami Dolphins from the Kansas City Chiefs turned heads

The Super Bowl-victors would initially offer Hill $58m (£48m) but a new deal would not get off the ground. Instead, a stunning trade to Miami would ensure, where Rosenhaus' estimate would eventually come to pass as he signed an enormous $120 million for the next four years. Alongside this, he would pick up a $25m (£20m) signing bonus, alongside $72m (£59m) guaranteed and Hill appears to have no regrets about his move, he insisted: “I feel like everything happens for a reason."

Revealing a philosophical outlook in regards to his trade, he would add: "I agree God is never wrong. I think it was just one of those situations that I just needed to be me. I just needed to be free." As the Dolphins prepare to face Hill's former team in Frankfurt, it is clear that Chiefs chairman and CEO Clark Hunt feels the trade has been a success for all involved. Via team transcript he said: "Obviously, Tyreek is an incredible player and has done very well in his time with the Dolphins."

Tom Beattie