Remember the 2022 trade that made a damn splash in the NFL? You know, when Tyreek Hill swapped the Chiefs’ red for the Dolphins’ blue? Well, Hill has finally opened up about the ‘sudden move’ that made him land in Miami. 

On The Dive Bar Podcast, Hill spilled the beans about the emotional rollercoaster that was the trade talks. While many assumed he wanted the security of being the highest-paid receiver (Hill did snag that title with his Miami contract), it turns out his childhood fandom played a big role. “You can even ask my friends,” Hill said, “whenever we played Madden, I used to trade myself to the Dolphins off the Chiefs!” Guess that dream of playing in aqua and orange went way back.

But hold on, there’s more to the story. Initially, Hill was willing to stay with the Chiefs. “We had our conversations about ‘oh, we’re gonna try to bring you back’,” he revealed. However, when Miami came in with the massive offer, Hill didn’t wanna pass up becoming the league’s highest-paid receiver. “I had no choice; you know what I’m saying,” the 30-year-old admitted.

While some fans questioned Hill’s move from Patrick Mahomes‘ laser throws to Tua Tagovailoa’s developing arm, the results kinda speak for themselves. Hill thrived with the Dolphins, putting up career-best stats and numbers. “The rest is history,” he concluded on the YouTube podcast, “everything happens for a reason.”

So there you have it! Tyreek Hill’s move to the Dolphins was driven by a childhood dream. And hey, who can argue with the outcome? Hill’s living his dream in Miami, and the Dolphins look like legit Super Bowl contenders. It’s a win-win for everyone, except maybe the Chiefs, who missed out on keeping their star receiver. 

Chiefs paved the way for Miami by rejecting Hill’s request

The baffling trade that sent Tyreek Hill to Miami wasn’t about a lack of desire to keep him in Kansas City. On his new podcast, It Needed To Be Said, Hill himself revealed he tried everything to stay with the Chiefs, even suggesting a contract well below his eventual record-breaking deal with Miami.

“I ain’t even gotta be the highest-paid, for real,” Hill said, explaining his mindset during negotiations with Chiefs’ coach Andy Reid. “I just wanted a realistic position for me and my family.” By realistic, Hill meant a contract averaging $25–26 million annually, a significant jump but a far cry from the $30 million mark. Per Hill’s agent, Drew Rosenhaus, the Chiefs’ offer “wasn’t even close” in guaranteed money.

While Chiefs’ HC Reid said he loved Hill and knew he wanted to stay, it seems the budget couldn’t match the sentiment. The Chiefs came back with an “aggressive” proposal, according to Reid, but the gap between offers was just too big. So, the Chiefs opted to move on, trading for draft picks to beef up their roster, while Hill inked a four-year, $120 million deal with $72.2 million guaranteed. 

Did the Chiefs mess up by letting go of their star receiver? Let’s see. Kansas City certainly hasn’t skipped a beat, revamping their receiving corps with JuJu Smith-Schuster, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, and rookie Skyy Moore. Meanwhile, Hill shoulders the responsibility of boosting Tua Tagovailoa’s game.

This trade drama might be over, but a potential playoff showdown could be on the horizon if both teams live up to the hype. Fans are eager to see if the Chiefs can navigate the tough AFC West without Hill and if Hill can help unlock Tua’s potential in Miami.