Dolphins WR Tyreek Hill reflects on time in KC before facing Chiefs — but sends out trash talk too

FRANKFURT, Germany — It would be natural for emotions to run wild for Tyreek Hill, as the Miami Dolphins receiver and former Chiefs star gets prepared to face the team with which he made a name for himself in the NFL over six seasons and a Super Bowl title.

But as he will be going against the Chiefs for the first time since the trade he requested to the Dolphins, in part in order to earn the league’s richest contract at his position, Hill was surprisingly stoic regarding the matchup. Nonetheless, he still mixed in his playful, energetic responses and biting humor in answers to questions at a Thursday media session following Dolphins practice at PSD Bank Arena in Frankfurt, Germany.

“We want to beat them just as bad as they want to beat us, so no emotions,” said Hill who learned he was named AFC Offensive Player of the Month for his Octoberfest of receiving ahead of Miami’s first scheduled game in November.

Excuse him if he’s not feeling a whole lot after a nine-hour plane ride to Germany, plus two practices, rest and hydration since he arrived on foreign turf Tuesday morning.

“A: I’m feeling tired. I’m still trying to adjust to the sleeping schedule,” Hill said. “It’s just another opportunity to play the game that I love. Obviously, it’ll be against the Kansas City Chiefs, but I’m going to treat this week like any other week.”

His teammates, like quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and fellow wideout Jaylen Waddle, on Wednesday, backed up that last sentiment. Instead, Hill was reflective on his time in Kansas City.

“I look back at that time and just say, man, just a young guy trying to find himself in the league,” he said. “I was able to learn from so many guys, was able to mature so fast because I was able to step into a receiver role. And it was a lot. I kind of took that on, and I didn’t look back. The coaching staff trusted me there, and I absolutely loved every minute of it. I wouldn’t take none of it back. It was fun times, definitely.”

Despite the reminiscing, Hill wasn’t shy about dishing out trash talk to his former teammates either.

His answer when asked about his first game against the Chiefs, one that was supposed to be a home game for Kansas City, being played overseas instead of back at Arrowhead Stadium: “It doesn’t really matter where we play at. They’re going to get this work wherever, though,” acknowledging he was offering them bulletin-board material.

There was one topic he wouldn’t broach for smack talk, though: Taylor Swift and the star singer-songwriter’s relationship with Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce.

Asked about Waddle saying Wednesday he’s a “Swiftie,” a name given to the most dedicated of Swift’s fans who are known to come after her critics on social media, Hill said: “I’m not getting into that. That’s a dangerous crew. No comment.”

He took the opposite approach of outside linebacker Bradley Chubb on Thursday.

“I don’t want to say nothing about the Swifties, but we could care less what they think,” Chub said.

Hill’s humor also on display for the international media when asked if he has a shot at MVP after becoming the first player in the Super Bowl era with 1,014 receiving yards in his team’s first eight games of a season.

“No. Because we have a player on our team that’s better than me, that means more to this team, so no,” before pausing and revealing he didn’t mean Tagovailoa, who is the odds-on favorite, according to various sportsbooks, “… and his name is (fullback) Alec Ingold.”

But Hill has had an MVP-like start to the season, even if it’s unlikely for a receiver to win the award. All the while, he received his own recognition Thursday as AFC Offensive Player of the Month for October.

The honor, a first for Hill while once getting it on special teams, marks back-to-back for the Dolphins after Tagovailoa won it for September. It’s the first such consecutive instance for the franchise.

Hill becomes the first Dolphins non-quarterback to ever win AFC Offensive Player of the Month. Tagovailoa was the first Dolphins player to win the award in 30 years when he had it last month.

The Dolphins are just the fourth team since 2000 to have two different players win consecutive AFC Offensive Player of the Month awards within the same season, joining the 2022 Chiefs (Patrick Mahomes, Jerick McKinnon), the 2016 New England Patriots (LeGarrette Blount, Tom Brady) and 2007 Patriots (Brady, Randy Moss).

Hill led the AFC with 602 receiving yards in October, which was 114 more than any other player in the conference. His 16.7 yards per reception in the month was the highest of any AFC player with at least 20 receptions, while his four receiving touchdowns were tied for third in the conference.

Hill has a receiving touchdown in each of his past four games, which is tied for the longest streak in the NFL this season.

Hill, along with Tagovailoa and others, has helped the Dolphins lead the league in scoring (33.9), total offense (453.3) and passing offense (301.5), as Miami is off to a 6-2 start for the first time since 2001.

Hill was previously named AFC Special Teams Player of the Month in December 2016.

Other Dolphins to win the AFC Offensive Player of the Month include Tagovailoa, quarterback Scott Mitchell (October 1993) and quarterback Dan Marino (November 1986 and October 1988).

The Dolphins have now had seven Player of the Month Award winners in the past five seasons, including two this year. Linebacker Melvin Ingram was AFC Defensive Player of the Month in September 2022. Linebacker Jerome Baker earned it in December 2021. Kicker Jason Sanders won three AFC Special Teams Player of the Month awards in October and November 2020 and in December 2019.