Tyreek Hill seems to have spent this offseason doing some soul searching. According to a story on Associated Press, Hill said he wouldn't be surprised if his teammates didn't vote him team captain, after how things went down at the end of last season. It would be the first year he wasn't named a team captain since joining the Miami Dolphins three years ago.
It might be the most eye-opening thing he's said in his NFL career. He doubled down, talking about why he doesn't deserve to be a team leader, while speaking to reporters at OTAs this week.
"I’ve got to prove myself,” Hill said, per the Associated Press story. “This OTAs, training camp, I got to prove myself. I’ve got to show up different. The mindset’s got to be different."
That's a great first step. He withdrew himself from the final game of the season mid-game. He said it was about the frustration he had from this season and had nothing to do with him bullying his way out of Miami. Although rumors surfaced, he never officially requested a trade and now has a refreshed, mature mindset ahead of his fourth season with the Dolphins.
Tyreek Hill knows he messed up, but his actions will speak louder than his words
It was Hill's actions and antics against the New York Jets in the season finale that put him in this situation to begin with. It will be his actions that absolve him from how last year ended. He can talk a big game right now all he wants, but when things get tough during the season, how he reacts will truly determine if he has a changed mindset this year.
He admitted it was the frustrations of last season that culminated to him subbing himself out of the game, unprovoked. So while things are good, of course he's going to take more ownership than now. And maybe he does want to remain in Miami and this is his way of truly apologizing.
But let's not forget, what happened on the field was one things, when he addressed media members after the game, he stoked the fire he started, being very ambiguous about his future in Miami. It's good he's that good of a competitor that these things matter. He just has to handle them better.
In a way, the Dolphins naming him team captain for the 2025 season after he admitted he doesn't deserve it would speak volumes. It would show the locker room is standing by their veteran and truly knows he meant no harm. It would also mean, he's garnered so much respect that even when he showed he was a terrible example of a leader at the end of last year, he's made strides to show he's ready to be a leader for this year.