Ten years. Honestly, when you say it out loud, it feels a bit surreal. It feels like just yesterday we were watching this skinny, lightning-fast kid from West Alabama torching return units for the Kansas City Chiefs. But as we sit here in early 2026, Tyreek Hill has officially reached a decade in the league.
He didn't just survive ten years in the NFL; he redefined what a "speed receiver" looks like. Most guys who rely on pure wheels burn out by 27. Hill, somehow, stayed at the top of the food chain well into his 30s.
The Timeline: How Long Has Tyreek Hill Been in the NFL?
Tyreek Hill entered the league in 2016. If you're doing the math, that makes the 2025 season his 10th year of professional football. He was a fifth-round pick, 165th overall. People forget that. He wasn't some blue-chip prospect with a guaranteed starting spot. He was a "special teams flyer" who basically forced Andy Reid’s hand by being too fast to keep off the field.
His career is a tale of two cities—and two very different identities.
The Kansas City Era (2016–2021)
For six seasons, Hill was the engine of the most terrifying offense in football. You've seen the clips. Patrick Mahomes scrambles, looks deep, and there’s number 10, three yards past the nearest defender.
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- 2016: Rookie year. He was mostly a returner but still snagged six touchdowns.
- 2018: The breakout. 1,479 yards. This is when the league realized he wasn't just a track star; he was a route runner.
- 2019: Super Bowl LIV champion. He caught nine passes for 105 yards in that comeback win over the Niners.
The Miami Chapter (2022–Present)
When the trade happened in 2022, everyone thought he’d fall off. "He needs Mahomes," they said. Instead, he went to Miami and put up back-to-back 1,700-yard seasons. It was insane. He proved he could be the centerpiece of an offense, not just a deep-threat accessory.
Why 2025 Changed Everything
Going into his 10th season, Hill was still talking about 2,000 yards. Then, Week 4 happened. That Monday night game against the Jets in late September 2025 is a moment Dolphins fans won't forget anytime soon.
He dislocated his knee. It wasn't just a "tweak." We’re talking multiple ligament tears, including his ACL. It ended his 2025 season after just four games. Before the injury, he was actually looking like his old self again, averaging about 66 yards a game and helping Tua Tagovailoa navigate a rocky start to the season.
The Contract Reality Check
Right now, the big question isn't just how long he's been in the league, but how much longer he will be. Hill is 31, turning 32 this March. Speed is his currency, and a major knee reconstruction at 32 is a terrifying prospect for a guy nicknamed "The Cheetah."
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Look at the numbers. His 2026 cap hit is astronomical—nearly $52 million. Only $11 million of his 2026 salary is guaranteed, and that only kicks in if he’s on the roster by the third day of the new league year in March 2026.
Most league insiders, including folks over at CBS Sports, expect the Dolphins to release him before that deadline. Miami is in a tough spot. They’ve got a new GM coming in after a disastrous 2025, and a $52 million cap hit for a receiver coming off surgery is a hard pill to swallow.
Is the End Near?
Hill hasn't been shy about the "R" word. In an interview with Terron Armstead late last year, he admitted he’s been thinking about retirement. He’s happy with what he’s done. And why wouldn't he be?
- One Super Bowl ring.
- Five First-team All-Pro nods.
- Eight straight Pro Bowls (2016–2023).
- Member of the NFL 2010s All-Decade Team.
Basically, he's a Hall of Famer. If he walks away now, his legacy is set. But his agent, Drew Rosenhaus, is adamant that Hill will play in 2026. The goal is Week 1. Whether that’s in a Dolphins jersey or a return to "home" in Kansas City—as he’s teased on social media—remains the biggest drama of the upcoming offseason.
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What This Means for You
If you’re a fan or a fantasy manager, you have to treat Hill as a high-risk, high-reward outlier now. The days of him being a "safe" first-round pick are over.
Keep a close eye on the mid-March deadline. If Miami releases him, he becomes the most interesting free agent in the league. A team like the Chiefs or even the Lions might take a one-year flyer on him. Just don't expect him to be the guy who puts up 1,700 yards anymore. If he gives a team 800 yards and some veteran leadership in 2026, that’s a massive win.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Watch the Waiver Wire: If you're in a dynasty league, now is the time to decide if you're selling high on the "comeback" narrative or holding for one last ride.
- Track the March 14 Deadline: This is the third day of the league year. If he's still a Dolphin then, they're committed. If not, the "Cheetah" hits the open market.
- Check the Rehab Clips: Hill is a social media junkie. Watch his lateral movement in his workout videos this spring; that will tell you more than any press release ever could.