On Monday, February 16, 2026, the Miami Dolphins decided to release their star wide receiver, ending his four-year run in South Florida and sending one of the league’s most explosive players straight into free agency.
What Happened In Miami Today
NFL Network insider Tom Pelissero reported that Miami is cutting Hill as part of a wider round of cost-saving moves under new head coach Jeff Hafley and new general manager Jon Eric Sullivan. Hill was one of several veterans let go, a group that also included pass rusher Bradley Chubb, guard James Daniels, and wide receiver Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, with the four moves together clearing more than 56 million dollars in 2026 cap space.
Separate reporting notes that Hill’s release alone is expected to save the Dolphins about $22.8 million against the salary cap. For a team that recently sat an estimated $17.4 million over the cap, that type of relief gives Miami room to reshape the roster, chase free agents, and reset after back-to-back losing seasons.
The Injury And Contract Pressure Behind The Move
This is not a pure performance decision. Hill’s 2025 season ended in Week 4 when he suffered a dislocated left knee and multiple torn ligaments, including his ACL, during a win over the New York Jets. He finished the year with only 21 catches for 265 yards and one touchdown before undergoing major surgery.
According to league reports, Hill would have triggered around 11 million dollars in additional guarantees this month if he had remained on the roster, contributing to a projected 2026 cap hit in the mid-30 million dollar range.
Combining that heavy number with uncertainty about when or even if he will be ready to play in 2026 made the contract hard for Miami to carry, especially while trying to answer big questions at quarterback with Tua Tagovailoa’s future still up in the air.
Tyreek Hill’s Resume Still Turns Heads
Even with the injury, Hill’s full body of work is the reason his name is dominating search trends today. Across his career with the Kansas City Chiefs and Miami Dolphins, Hill has 819 receptions for 11,363 yards and 83 receiving touchdowns, along with Pro Bowl nods in each of his first eight seasons.
After arriving in Miami in a blockbuster 2022 trade from Kansas City, Hill delivered back-to-back seasons with more than 1,700 receiving yards and 119 catches in both 2022 and 2023. In 2023, he led the NFL in receiving yards and tied for the league lead in receiving touchdowns. He is a five-time first-team All-Pro, a member of the NFL 2010s All-Decade Team, and a Super Bowl champion from his time with the Chiefs.
That is the player now hitting the open market at age 31, turning 32 on March 1.
Social Media Reaction And Early Free Agency Buzz
Hill did not stay quiet after the news broke. Within hours, he updated his Instagram bio to one word that quickly went viral among fans in the United States: “unemployed.” The small change summed up both the shock of his release and the reality that he is, for the first time in his career, truly on the open market.
Reports from NFL.com note that Hill can sign with another team right away instead of waiting for the official start of the new league year in March. That timing matters for front offices that want to move fast and for fans tracking every notification. Early commentary has already linked Hill to potential fits, with Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio mentioning the Seattle Seahawks as one team that should at least consider him, a link highlighted by Heavy.
For now, there is no official agreement or shortlist from Hill’s camp. What is clear is that any team showing interest will weigh two things very carefully: his elite track record as a game breaking deep threat and the risk that comes with a receiver returning from a major knee injury in his early thirties.
Why This Story Matters For Fans Across The USA
Tyreek Hill is not just another name hitting free agency. His release changes the shape of the Dolphins’ offense, opens a big chunk of cap space for Miami, and instantly becomes one of the headline stories of the 2026 NFL offseason.
For fans, the next few days are worth watching closely. Hill’s next contract, the protections written into that deal, and the type of team willing to bet on his recovery will all say a lot about how the modern NFL values speed, star power, and health risk.
As of this afternoon, all of that is in play, and Tyreek Hill’s future is one of the biggest open questions in football.
