Tua Tagovailoa Reflects on Relationship with Tyreek Hill

Tua Tagovailoa believes in forgiveness, but some things take time to mend.

On Wednesday, the Dolphins quarterback shared that Tyreek Hill, their standout receiver, is actively trying to repair his relationship with teammates following some controversial comments he made at the end of last season. Tagovailoa remarked, “When you say something like that, you don’t just come back from there with ‘hey, my bad.'” This insight came from a training camp session, indicating that the emotional aftermath is still being navigated.

Tagovailoa continued, emphasizing that rebuilding that trust is no small task. “You have to take that relationship, you have to build everything again, and it’s still ongoing. I admire him doing it because it’s the first step for me—not just for me, but for everyone. He’s working on himself, and he wants to be better, so that’s a significant first step.”

Since joining the Dolphins in 2022 through a trade with the Chiefs, Hill, now 31, has established a solid rapport with Tagovailoa, who is 27. Together, they have amassed an impressive 1,700 receiving yards in their first two seasons, with the team reaching the playoffs each year, albeit falling short in the wildcard rounds.

As the Dolphins prepare for the 2024 season, expectations soared with a substantial four-year, $222.4 million contract for Tagovailoa. Yet the season’s progress grew challenging. Tagovailoa faced several weeks on the sideline due to a concussion sustained during a two-week match, a recurring issue as he dealt with two concussions just the previous season.

When he returned to play, the team’s struggles persisted, leading to an 8-9 finish after a push in the latter half of the season didn’t secure a playoff spot.

Hill, who was just shy of 1,000 yards in the season and caught in controversy after a season-ending loss to the Jets, hinted that he wanted to leave Miami. “It was frustrating that everyone heard at the end of the season,” he commented, defending his feelings by saying he puts in the work daily to earn his opinions.

In what he referred to as his “Public Apology Tour,” Hill reaffirmed his loyalty to Tagovailoa, saying, “Tua is my man. He will always be my man. He understands my frustration. We all want to win. He’s a fierce competitor, and I look forward to continuing to build our relationship.”

The past year has been turbulent for Hill, with incidents including a police encounter and a domestic dispute with his estranged wife, Kita Hill, who filed for divorce in April.

As training camp unfolds, the Dolphins are gearing up for the next season. They’ll face the Colts on September 7, with safety Minka Fitzpatrick returning, although they’ll be without cornerback Jalen Ramsey and tight end Jone Smith, who were recently traded to the Steelers.