Tyreek Hill’s already complex relationship with the Miami Dolphins took another weird turn on Sunday when head coach Mike McDaniel had a passive-aggressive response to Hill’s suggestion on how to make the Dolphins offense perform better in short-yardage situations.
Speaking to the media after Dolphins training camp on Friday, Hill was asked what could help the team’s efficiency on third down, explaining that taking out starting running back De’Von Achane in favor of a bigger running back like Jaylen Wright or rookie Ollie Gordon could help convert more often in third-and-short situations.
“Take De’Von out on 3rd-down,” said Hill. “What? That’s my honest opinion. If it’s 3rd-and-short, he’s not a power back. I’ve been telling him that in the locker room. But he swears he is a power back. I love De’Von though, but if I’m being honest, that’s why you got Jaylen Wright. That’s why you got Ollie Gordon. For those kinds of situations.”
🎥 Tyreek Hill on how the Dolphins can solve their short yardage woes in the run game: “Take [Achane] out on 3rd-down. That’s my honest opinion. If it’s 3rd-and-short, he’s not a power back… If I’m being honest, that’s why you got Jaylen Wright.” (@MiamiDolphins) #PhinsUp pic.twitter.com/mYxKPUkVHO
— FinsXtra (@FinsXtra) August 1, 2025
On Sunday, Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel commented on Hill’s critique of how he handles the running back usage on his team, explaining how Dolphins running backs coach Eric Studesville interestingly came to the same assessment that Hill did during practice on Friday.
“I thought it was genius reporting by Tyreek,” said a clearly sarcastic Mike McDaniel. “Seeing how we had a short-yardage period that very day that you guys were in attendance for. And his suggestion was, I guess, congruent with coach [Eric] Studesville. That’s exactly how we repped the backs in that short-yardage period that very day. But we thought it was funny that he reported the news that wasn’t news on that practice day in that short-yardage period that you guys were all there, too, for.”
Yikes: Dolphins HC Mike McDaniel seems to have had enough of Tyreek Hill’s antics…😬 pic.twitter.com/CulfnCDYnA
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) August 3, 2025
Maybe McDaniel did genuinely think it was a funny coincidence that Hill came to the same conclusion as Eric Studesville. But the tone of his voice certainly sounded like he was a bit perturbed with Hill inserting himself into the decision-making in regards to the team’s short-yardage game plan.
Notably, Hill and the Dolphins organization are just one season removed from being on very rocky terms. While Hill never officially requested a trade from the team in 2024, he did allude to “opening that door” to possibilities outside of Miami back in January, before later walking back his comments and publicly apologizing for them during Super Bowl week in February.
Maybe nothing will come of this comment from McDaniel. But at the very least, it at least seems possible that Hill may not be the most popular man on the Dolphins roster as we approach the start of the 2025 NFL season.
About Reice Shipley
Reice Shipley is a staff writer for Comeback Media that graduated from Ithaca College with a degree in Sports Media. He previously worked at Barrett Sports Media and is a fan of all things Syracuse sports.