The Kansas City Chiefs have made many changes to their roster over the years, including their three Super Bowl-winning campaigns. One of the most significant was trading then-three-time All-Pro wide receiver Tyreek Hill to the Miami Dolphins.
Dolphins WR Tyreek Hill Sends 5-Word Message About Chiefs Trade
Tyreek Hill Grateful for Chiefs Trade
On the anniversary of the trade, Hill – now a five-time All-Pro who also added two more Pro Bowls to his resume, bringing his total to eight – reflected fondly on the franchise-altering move.
“Changed my life,” Hill posted on X on March 23. “Thank you.”
Changed my life thank you https://t.co/FOnS986rIy
https://twitter.com/cheetah/status/1903824918585696642
Hill leads the league in receiving yards, is third in receptions, and sixth in receiving touchdowns since joining the Dolphins in 2022. He was also voted the No. 1 player in the league by his peers entering the 2024 season. Hill finished the season with 959 yards and 6 TDs on 81 receptions. The receptions and yards were his fewest since 2019.
The touchdowns were his fewest since his rookie season and he has appeared in two playoff games with Miami, going 0-2.
Hill raised eyebrows as the Dolphins’ season came to an end, saying he wanted to be traded out of Miami. He later walked back those comments and has even commended the Dolphins general manager Chris Grier’s approach to the offseason.
Chiefs Built Back-to-Back Super Bowls Off Tyreek Hill Trade
Hill’s success in a new environment proves his status as an elite and unique player in the NFL regardless of position. However, the Chiefs did well to turn a key piece from their initial title run with Patrick Mahomes into multiple contributors to multiple appearances.
The Chiefs traded Hill to the Dolphins for a package of first and second-round picks in 2022, fourth-rounders in 2022 and 2023, and a sixth-round selection in 2023.
KC traded all of them.
In return, the Chiefs acquired – through various means – cornerback Trent McDuffie and receivers Kadarious Toney and Skyy Moore. McDuffie is the only one who has become a consistent contributor.
This is a @trent_mcduffie appreciation post. pic.twitter.com/kSKKupoUnk
https://twitter.com/Chiefs/status/1873840484059152476?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1873840484059152476%7Ctwgr%5E8a0f8235b0056925bc50cfce2da90606293a725c%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Flastwordonsports.com%2Fnfl%2F2025%2F03%2F23%2Fdolphins-hill-trade-chiefs-mahomes-jones-contract%2F
However, the Chiefs also allowed themselves financial flexibility to address multiple potential issues elsewhere on the roster.
Hill was on a three-year, $54 million contract with the Chiefs.
He has since signed a four-year, $120 million pact and re-upped with a three-year, $90 million extension two years later. The Chiefs have had to address All-Pro defensive lineman Chris Jones among other items in the time since Hill’s trade.
Chiefs Proved Themselves Right
SB Nation’s James Dator questioned the Chiefs for not providing better options at receiver for Mahomes but overall praised their decision to rebuild with a focus on the defense.
“The Chiefs decided to sacrifice their offensive firepower to build their defense, and to this end it definitely paid off. Kansas City has quietly built one of the better units in the NFL, and I think it makes a lot of sense,” Dator wrote in January 2024.
“The Chiefs saw the writing on the wall.
Update on the Chiefs’ cap space situation (counting top 51 contracts):
OverTheCap: $15,003,798
Spotrac: $16,426,337That includes Bolton and Hollywood Brown.
Does not yet include JuJu Smith-Schuster, Kareem Hunt, Gardner Minshew, Jerry Tillery & Marlon Tuipulotu.
https://twitter.com/mattderrick/status/1902853058444357674?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1902853058444357674%7Ctwgr%5E8a0f8235b0056925bc50cfce2da90606293a725c%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Flastwordonsports.com%2Fnfl%2F2025%2F03%2F23%2Fdolphins-hill-trade-chiefs-mahomes-jones-contract%2F
“Diversifying their team was the best path forward, with the belief that Mahomes’ brilliance would be enough to drag the offense through,” Dator wrote. “This is mostly true.”
The Chiefs would go on to win the Super Bowl but this past season showed there is more work to be done. Still, Hill’s recent comments are a strong reminder of a deal that effectively altered multiple NFL franchises and lives.
