Tyreek Hill was detained by Miami-Dade Police before the Dolphins' game, citing reckless driving. He later led his team to victory.
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. -- Several Miami Dolphins players, including All-Pro wide receiver Tyreek Hill, were briefly detained by Miami-Dade Police officers before Sunday’s game against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Hill explained that he was stopped for allegedly speeding on his way to Hard Rock Stadium, about three hours before the game. Sources told ESPN's Jeff Darlington that Hill was placed in handcuffs after a “verbal altercation” took place. Hill was cited for reckless driving, according to Darlington's sources.
He was released after several minutes, but the incident was recorded by nearby fans and quickly went viral on social media. Hill expressed uncertainty about why the situation escalated.
“Right now, I’m still trying to figure it all out … I still don’t know what happened,” Hill said postgame. “But I do want to use this platform to say, ‘What if I wasn’t Tyreek Hill?’ Worst-case scenario, you know? … There are bad apples in every situation, but I want to use this platform to flip this and turn it into something positive, for myself and for Miami-Dade, and do something good for the community.
“It’s tough. I don’t want to make it about race, but sometimes it’s hard to avoid that. What if I wasn’t Tyreek Hill? Lord knows what could have happened. I just tried to follow what my uncle always told me — keep your hands on the wheel and listen.”
Hill added that he has “no idea” why officers handcuffed him, stating that he was neither disrespectful nor did he use profanity toward them.
Dolphins offensive lineman Terron Armstead mentioned that Hill was “pretty upset, but ready to play” when he arrived in the locker room. Hill went on to record a game-high 130 receiving yards against the Jaguars, including an 80-yard touchdown — the longest of his career. After the play, Hill celebrated by mimicking handcuffs while teammate Jaylen Waddle playfully “detained” him.
At one point during the incident, videos showed Hill lying on the ground, handcuffed, with four officers standing over him.
Dolphins players Calais Campbell and Jonnu Smith intervened to offer support for Hill and to help calm the situation, which led to Campbell also being detained.
“Disobeying a direct order,” Campbell responded when asked why he was detained. “He said I was too close to the scene, and then something about not moving my car fast enough, I’m not sure … He told me I wasn’t under arrest but cited me for being detained, then released me.”
Miami-Dade PD issued a statement from Director Stephanie V. Daniels, who ordered an “immediate review of all details surrounding the incident.” Just three hours later, Daniels confirmed that one officer involved had been “placed on administrative duties while the investigation is ongoing.”
Hill was made aware of this decision during his postgame press conference and supported the action.
“Well, that tells you all you need to know,” Hill said. “I’m just grateful that my teammates were there for me because, in that moment, I felt alone. When they showed up, I realized we have a f---ing great team this year, for them to put their lives on the line. It was amazing.”
Campbell also agreed that placing the officer on administrative duties was appropriate and “the right way to handle it.”
NFL spokesperson Brian McCarthy confirmed that the league has been in contact with the Dolphins but declined to provide additional comments.
Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel stated he wasn’t fully aware of the situation after the game, but he was proud of how his players came together to support a teammate.
“Especially for the guys directly involved — Calais Campbell and Jonnu, they were visibly shaken,” McDaniel said. “You try to prepare your team to handle the unexpected. You can’t predict specific events. A lot of things fall under adversity, but one thing we stress is that there’s always a light at the end of the tunnel. You’re not always prepared for it, but neither were the teammates in need. So, we just try to do our best.”
The Dolphins defeated the Jaguars 20-17 after rallying with 13 unanswered points in the second half.