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Tyreek Hill has a decision to make.
Hill is out for the season with a serious knee injury. Assuming his rehabilitation goes according to plan, it’s possible he could resume his NFL career in 2026 even though he’ll be 32 years old.
It’s possible he won’t.
Hill could consider calling it a career after 10 seasons.
Watch Bills-Dolphins on Fubo
Which is where the Pro Football Hall of Fame comes in.
Hill of course wants to wear a gold jacket one day. Since he already has a ring, it’s the one major missing piece of his career. If Hill feels he already has done enough to warrant induction, it could nudge him toward retirement, just as, if he’s unsure he’ll get in, that could push him to play on.
Even he doesn’t know which way he’ll go, as he recently explained on ex-teammate Terron Armstead’s podcast. Hill said he’s not going to rush into such an important decision. He said he’s enjoying spending time with his family. But before you read too much into that, remember, the only thing more elusive than Hill on the football field is Hill off the football field.
More: Miami Dolphins' salary cap situation not good at all
Hill hasn’t spoken about making the Hall of Fame often since joining the Dolphins. One exception was shortly after his arrival.
“I don’t really try to think about any of that,” he said. “At this point in my career, the only thing I’m really thinking about is just winning games and doing whatever I can for this team. That’s really it. When that day comes for me to get into the Hall of Fame, I’ll be thankful. I’ll be grateful for just being listed or even being considered to be in those categories. That would be great.”
Considered? Check. There’s no question that even if Hill doesn’t play another snap, he at least warrants consideration for a bust in Canton as one of the most-feared game-breaking threats of his time.
If you’re building a case for him, start by comparing his key career statistics to receivers already in the Hall of Fame. So, let’s:
[IMG alt="Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Tyreek Hill (10), makes a catch on third and fifteen, for a critical first down against the San Francisco 49ers Super Bowl LIV at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Feb. 2, 2020. [BILL INGRAM/The Palm Beach Post]
Super Bowl Kansas City Chiefs Vs San Francisco 49ers"]https://media.zenfs.com/en/palm_beach_post_natl_articles_437/6cd19a72559a6d421131c8d6e16d73c0[/IMG]
These are powerful metrics to help Hill’s case. One test voters have been known to use is how much a player stands out from contemporaries. Eight Pro Bowls in 10 seasons speaks for itself. That includes selections as a return specialist early in his career, but is that a plus because of his versatility?
“I think Tyreek definitely deserves to be in the Hall of Fame,” his agent, Drew Rosenhaus, wrote via text to The Palm Beach Post. “He has been incredibly productive and one of the most explosive and entertaining players in NFL history. Tyreek and his amazing speed and big-play ability make him a most worthy candidate for the HOF.”
The authoritative website pro-football-reference.com offers a “Hall of Fame Monitor” that attempts to quantify players’ credentials, incorporating metrics such as receiving yards, All-Pro appearances, Pro Bowls and the approximate value of a player’s weighted career. It assigned Hill a score of 95.07, just shy of the average Hall of Fame receiver’s 100.
That places Hill in the company of — but below — Hall contenders Reggie Wayne (111.14), Torry Holt (109.22), Julio Jones (108.60), Antonio Brown (104.48) and Steve Smith Sr. (100.41). But it also rates Hill above Hall of Famers such as Michael Irvin (92.36), Andre Johnson (91.91) and Calvin Johnson (84.19).
The comparison to Jones, Brown and Smith is particularly noteworthy. Tempting as it may be for Hill’s fans to say his place in Canton is fait accompli, in the words of the legendary Lee Corso: Not so fast, my friend.
In this pass-happy era, it should come as no surprise there is a slew of receiving candidates for induction — and the logjam is only getting worse. Not that it would ever happen, but there are enough receivers (seven) who recently advanced in the voting process to comprise the entire Class of 2026: Anquan Boldin, Larry Fitzgerald, Holt, Jimmy Smith, Steve Smith Sr., Hines Ward and Wayne. All have more receiving yards than Hill, although only Fitzgerald and Ward have more touchdowns.
That’s only half the story. Soon there will be pushes made on behalf of Jones, DeAndre Hopkins, Mike Evans and Davante Adams. They also have more receiving yards than Hill.
Candidates for the Hall must be retired for five years before they can gain approval, which requires a thumbs-up from 80 percent of the voters. Currently, it could come down to longevity, something the Dolphins have dealt with before. Dwight Stephenson is recognized as one of the greatest centers ever, yet he was elected in his sixth year of eligibility. The reason? A knee injury ended his career midway through his eighth season.
Hill’s 10 seasons equate to half of Jerry Rice’s career. But he’s Jerry Rice, the GOAT. A fairer comparison might be Paul Warfield and Marvin Harrison, who each played 13 seasons, Charlie Joiner (18) and Andre Reed (16). On the other hand, Calvin Johnson’s nine-year career earned him a Hall pass.
What about hitting pay dirt? Getting in the end zone?
Hill has 819 receptions and converted 83 of them into touchdowns. This means that 10.13 percent of the time when he catches a pass, it’s six points.
Shooting for the moon, let’s compare that to Cris Carter since, as we’ve heard countless times, all he did was catch touchdowns. Carter cashed in only slightly more often than Hill, 11.81 percent (130 TDs, 1,101 catches).
Hill also lands in the same neighborhood as Rice (12.71 percent), but trails Moss (15.89). The real eye-catcher is Warfield, a member of the 1972 Dolphins. His percentage: a staggering 19.9, back when nobody had ever heard the term “hit on a defenseless receiver.” His Dolphins teams had a backfield trio of Larry Csonka, Mercury Morris and Jim Kiick. Defenses were geared to stop them first, so when Bob Griese did put the ball in the air, it often produced devastating results.
What about now? Hill lands in good company with the NFL’s three reigning All-Pro receivers: Justin Jefferson (7.75), Amon-Ra St. Brown (8.18) and Ja’Marr Chase (10.83).
Hill has been named a first-team All-Pro five times. The only receivers with more are Rice (10) and Lance Alworth (six).
Unlike All-Pro, which basically is limited to one player per position (think of it as “all-NFL”), the Pro Bowl names starters and backups at each position for each conference. Only four Hall of Fame receivers were chosen to more Pro Bowls than Hill’s eight selections.
But what if Hill plays as long as some Hall of Famers? Based on his current pace, here’s what his career numbers would look like if his career lasts as long as …
Jerry Rice
Receptions 1,638 (89 more than Rice’s 1,549)
Receiving yards 22,726 (169 fewer than Rice’s 22,895)
Touchdowns 166 (31 fewer than Rice’s 197)
Terrell Owens
Receptions 1,229 (151 more than Owens’ 1,078)
Receiving yards 17,045 (1,111 more than Owens’ 15,934)
Touchdowns 125 (28 fewer than Owens’ 153)
Randy Moss
Receptions 1,147 (165 more than Moss’ 982)
Receiving yards 15,908 (616 more than Moss’ 15,292)
Touchdowns 116 (40 fewer than Moss’ 156)
In terms of receptions, Hill holds his own in all three cases. He also does in terms of yardage compared to Owens and Moss. But he falls short of all three players in trips to the end zone.
Rare talent: While finding a definitive, official time for Hill in the 40 is impossible, it’s undeniable he is one of the fastest players in NFL history. He kept many defensive coordinators up late and forced them to position safeties deep to avoid getting embarrassed.
Postseason success: Hill’s Chiefs won the Super Bowl in the 1999 season, beating San Francisco in the Super Bowl 31-20 at Hard Rock Stadium. Hill was a key component of K.C.’s victory over Tennessee in the AFC Championship Game, scoring two touchdowns, then caught nine passes for 105 yards in the Super Bowl. The Chiefs reached the Super Bowl the following season, losing to Tampa Bay and Tom Brady. Hill had 110 receiving yards in the divisional round against Cleveland and 172 vs. Buffalo in the AFC title game.
Return specialist: As a rookie, Hill was Kansas City’s return specialist and led the NFL with a 15.2-yard punt return average, including two touchdowns. He also averaged 27.4 on kickoff returns with one additional TD. He has five total returns for touchdowns in his career.
Elite company: Hill joins Harrison as the only players in NFL history with at least 700 receptions, 10,000 receiving yards and 75 touchdown receptions in their first eight seasons.
Alone at the top: Hill is the only player in NFL history to have recorded two seasons with at least 1,700 receiving yards (1,710 and 1,799, his first two seasons in Miami).
Hall of Fame voters are human. Some Baseball Hall of Fame voters balk at giving steroid users a Hall pass. Voting for the Pro Football Hall of Fame isn’t supposed to consider off-the-field issues. But voters are permitted, in the view of one Hall voter, to “vote their conscience.”
Hill has had his share of legal issues ranging from that confrontation with police before the 2024 opener, an accusation with an influencer that he broke her leg demonstrating a football move and accusations of domestic violence.
It would be naive to ignore the potential for some voters to consider this. Perhaps they’ll try to send a message by not making him a first-ballot Hall of Famer.
It should come as no surprise that Rosenhaus says a place in Canton “would mean a ton to Tyreek.
“He’s absolutely been one of the exciting and big-play makers in NFL history and has earned a spot in the HOF whenever he decides to retire,” Rosenhaus wrote.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Miami Dolphins' Tyreek Hill has a case for bust in the Hall of Fame
Continue reading...
Hill is out for the season with a serious knee injury. Assuming his rehabilitation goes according to plan, it’s possible he could resume his NFL career in 2026 even though he’ll be 32 years old.
It’s possible he won’t.
Hill could consider calling it a career after 10 seasons.
Watch Bills-Dolphins on Fubo
Which is where the Pro Football Hall of Fame comes in.
Hill of course wants to wear a gold jacket one day. Since he already has a ring, it’s the one major missing piece of his career. If Hill feels he already has done enough to warrant induction, it could nudge him toward retirement, just as, if he’s unsure he’ll get in, that could push him to play on.
You must be registered for see images attach
Even he doesn’t know which way he’ll go, as he recently explained on ex-teammate Terron Armstead’s podcast. Hill said he’s not going to rush into such an important decision. He said he’s enjoying spending time with his family. But before you read too much into that, remember, the only thing more elusive than Hill on the football field is Hill off the football field.
More: Miami Dolphins' salary cap situation not good at all
Hill hasn’t spoken about making the Hall of Fame often since joining the Dolphins. One exception was shortly after his arrival.
You must be registered for see images attach
“I don’t really try to think about any of that,” he said. “At this point in my career, the only thing I’m really thinking about is just winning games and doing whatever I can for this team. That’s really it. When that day comes for me to get into the Hall of Fame, I’ll be thankful. I’ll be grateful for just being listed or even being considered to be in those categories. That would be great.”
Considered? Check. There’s no question that even if Hill doesn’t play another snap, he at least warrants consideration for a bust in Canton as one of the most-feared game-breaking threats of his time.
If you’re building a case for him, start by comparing his key career statistics to receivers already in the Hall of Fame. So, let’s:
- 819 receptions: That’s 82 more than the average Hall of Famer.
- 11,363 receiving yards: Within 125 yards of the average.
- 83 touchdowns: Three more and he’d hit the average exactly.
- 8 Pro Bowls: Two more than the average.
- 5-time All-Pro: That’s double the average.
- 1 Super Bowl title: 1 is the average.
[IMG alt="Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Tyreek Hill (10), makes a catch on third and fifteen, for a critical first down against the San Francisco 49ers Super Bowl LIV at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Feb. 2, 2020. [BILL INGRAM/The Palm Beach Post]
Super Bowl Kansas City Chiefs Vs San Francisco 49ers"]https://media.zenfs.com/en/palm_beach_post_natl_articles_437/6cd19a72559a6d421131c8d6e16d73c0[/IMG]
These are powerful metrics to help Hill’s case. One test voters have been known to use is how much a player stands out from contemporaries. Eight Pro Bowls in 10 seasons speaks for itself. That includes selections as a return specialist early in his career, but is that a plus because of his versatility?
“I think Tyreek definitely deserves to be in the Hall of Fame,” his agent, Drew Rosenhaus, wrote via text to The Palm Beach Post. “He has been incredibly productive and one of the most explosive and entertaining players in NFL history. Tyreek and his amazing speed and big-play ability make him a most worthy candidate for the HOF.”
The authoritative website pro-football-reference.com offers a “Hall of Fame Monitor” that attempts to quantify players’ credentials, incorporating metrics such as receiving yards, All-Pro appearances, Pro Bowls and the approximate value of a player’s weighted career. It assigned Hill a score of 95.07, just shy of the average Hall of Fame receiver’s 100.
That places Hill in the company of — but below — Hall contenders Reggie Wayne (111.14), Torry Holt (109.22), Julio Jones (108.60), Antonio Brown (104.48) and Steve Smith Sr. (100.41). But it also rates Hill above Hall of Famers such as Michael Irvin (92.36), Andre Johnson (91.91) and Calvin Johnson (84.19).
You must be registered for see images
The comparison to Jones, Brown and Smith is particularly noteworthy. Tempting as it may be for Hill’s fans to say his place in Canton is fait accompli, in the words of the legendary Lee Corso: Not so fast, my friend.
In this pass-happy era, it should come as no surprise there is a slew of receiving candidates for induction — and the logjam is only getting worse. Not that it would ever happen, but there are enough receivers (seven) who recently advanced in the voting process to comprise the entire Class of 2026: Anquan Boldin, Larry Fitzgerald, Holt, Jimmy Smith, Steve Smith Sr., Hines Ward and Wayne. All have more receiving yards than Hill, although only Fitzgerald and Ward have more touchdowns.
That’s only half the story. Soon there will be pushes made on behalf of Jones, DeAndre Hopkins, Mike Evans and Davante Adams. They also have more receiving yards than Hill.
Hill’s length of service could be sticking point
Candidates for the Hall must be retired for five years before they can gain approval, which requires a thumbs-up from 80 percent of the voters. Currently, it could come down to longevity, something the Dolphins have dealt with before. Dwight Stephenson is recognized as one of the greatest centers ever, yet he was elected in his sixth year of eligibility. The reason? A knee injury ended his career midway through his eighth season.
Hill’s 10 seasons equate to half of Jerry Rice’s career. But he’s Jerry Rice, the GOAT. A fairer comparison might be Paul Warfield and Marvin Harrison, who each played 13 seasons, Charlie Joiner (18) and Andre Reed (16). On the other hand, Calvin Johnson’s nine-year career earned him a Hall pass.
You must be registered for see images attach
Hill didn’t ‘just catch touchdowns,’ but he did catch plenty of ’em
What about hitting pay dirt? Getting in the end zone?
Hill has 819 receptions and converted 83 of them into touchdowns. This means that 10.13 percent of the time when he catches a pass, it’s six points.
Shooting for the moon, let’s compare that to Cris Carter since, as we’ve heard countless times, all he did was catch touchdowns. Carter cashed in only slightly more often than Hill, 11.81 percent (130 TDs, 1,101 catches).
Hill also lands in the same neighborhood as Rice (12.71 percent), but trails Moss (15.89). The real eye-catcher is Warfield, a member of the 1972 Dolphins. His percentage: a staggering 19.9, back when nobody had ever heard the term “hit on a defenseless receiver.” His Dolphins teams had a backfield trio of Larry Csonka, Mercury Morris and Jim Kiick. Defenses were geared to stop them first, so when Bob Griese did put the ball in the air, it often produced devastating results.
What about now? Hill lands in good company with the NFL’s three reigning All-Pro receivers: Justin Jefferson (7.75), Amon-Ra St. Brown (8.18) and Ja’Marr Chase (10.83).
You must be registered for see images
Does a player stand out from his contemporaries? Hill does
Hill has been named a first-team All-Pro five times. The only receivers with more are Rice (10) and Lance Alworth (six).
Unlike All-Pro, which basically is limited to one player per position (think of it as “all-NFL”), the Pro Bowl names starters and backups at each position for each conference. Only four Hall of Fame receivers were chosen to more Pro Bowls than Hill’s eight selections.
If Tyreek Hill played as long as some Hall of Famers?
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But what if Hill plays as long as some Hall of Famers? Based on his current pace, here’s what his career numbers would look like if his career lasts as long as …
Jerry Rice
Receptions 1,638 (89 more than Rice’s 1,549)
Receiving yards 22,726 (169 fewer than Rice’s 22,895)
Touchdowns 166 (31 fewer than Rice’s 197)
Terrell Owens
Receptions 1,229 (151 more than Owens’ 1,078)
Receiving yards 17,045 (1,111 more than Owens’ 15,934)
Touchdowns 125 (28 fewer than Owens’ 153)
Randy Moss
Receptions 1,147 (165 more than Moss’ 982)
Receiving yards 15,908 (616 more than Moss’ 15,292)
Touchdowns 116 (40 fewer than Moss’ 156)
In terms of receptions, Hill holds his own in all three cases. He also does in terms of yardage compared to Owens and Moss. But he falls short of all three players in trips to the end zone.
Other considerations in his favor
You must be registered for see images attach
Rare talent: While finding a definitive, official time for Hill in the 40 is impossible, it’s undeniable he is one of the fastest players in NFL history. He kept many defensive coordinators up late and forced them to position safeties deep to avoid getting embarrassed.
Postseason success: Hill’s Chiefs won the Super Bowl in the 1999 season, beating San Francisco in the Super Bowl 31-20 at Hard Rock Stadium. Hill was a key component of K.C.’s victory over Tennessee in the AFC Championship Game, scoring two touchdowns, then caught nine passes for 105 yards in the Super Bowl. The Chiefs reached the Super Bowl the following season, losing to Tampa Bay and Tom Brady. Hill had 110 receiving yards in the divisional round against Cleveland and 172 vs. Buffalo in the AFC title game.
Return specialist: As a rookie, Hill was Kansas City’s return specialist and led the NFL with a 15.2-yard punt return average, including two touchdowns. He also averaged 27.4 on kickoff returns with one additional TD. He has five total returns for touchdowns in his career.
Elite company: Hill joins Harrison as the only players in NFL history with at least 700 receptions, 10,000 receiving yards and 75 touchdown receptions in their first eight seasons.
Alone at the top: Hill is the only player in NFL history to have recorded two seasons with at least 1,700 receiving yards (1,710 and 1,799, his first two seasons in Miami).
The elephant in the room
Hall of Fame voters are human. Some Baseball Hall of Fame voters balk at giving steroid users a Hall pass. Voting for the Pro Football Hall of Fame isn’t supposed to consider off-the-field issues. But voters are permitted, in the view of one Hall voter, to “vote their conscience.”
Hill has had his share of legal issues ranging from that confrontation with police before the 2024 opener, an accusation with an influencer that he broke her leg demonstrating a football move and accusations of domestic violence.
It would be naive to ignore the potential for some voters to consider this. Perhaps they’ll try to send a message by not making him a first-ballot Hall of Famer.
In conclusion
It should come as no surprise that Rosenhaus says a place in Canton “would mean a ton to Tyreek.
“He’s absolutely been one of the exciting and big-play makers in NFL history and has earned a spot in the HOF whenever he decides to retire,” Rosenhaus wrote.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Miami Dolphins' Tyreek Hill has a case for bust in the Hall of Fame
Continue reading...
