Is Tyreek Hill An Innocent Victim?

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(Getty Images)

Tyreek Hill has established himself as one of the best and most electric players in the NFL, but the ride to the top of the league has been a bumpy one.

Hill has periodically found himself in trouble during his NFL career to date. He was accused of domestic violence during his college days, notched allegations of child abuse with the Chiefs and has made headlines with off-field altercations during his time with the Dolphins, including a lawsuit filed by Instagram model Sophie Hall — who claimed Hill broke her leg during a football drill at his mansion — and a run-in with Miami-Dade police, who accosted and temporarily seized Hill after an alleged driving violation.

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There’s little doubt that Hill has talent. He posted 119 catches in 2023 and led the league in both receiving yards (1,799) and receiving touchdowns (13).

But as Hill again finds himself subject to a potential NFL investigation of his actions, it’s worth looking at his checkered past. That’s especially true considering that red flags surrounded him — and took him off many draft boards across the league — when he joined the NFL ranks in 2016.

Below is an overview of the trouble Hill has faced during both his college and professional careers to date:

Tyreek Hill domestic assault in college

After a couple seasons at Garden City Community College, Hill chose to play Division-I football at Oklahoma State in 2014. But he would only play one season for the Cowboys thanks to his arrest on domestic violence charges.

Crystal Espinal, Hill’s girlfriend who was eight weeks pregnant with his child, told police an argument late on the night of Dec. 12, 2014, at Hill’s Stillwater home escalated to physical violence. Espinal said she was choked by Hill, who also punched her in the stomach and the face. Still in pain in her stomach, she said she was concerned about the baby.

Hill spent the night in jail and on the next day was charged with felony domestic assault and battery by strangulation. That day, Oklahoma State announced it had dismissed Hill from the football and track programs.

“Oklahoma State University does not tolerate domestic abuse or violence,” the school said in a statement.

Hill initially pled not guilty. In August, represented by a new defense attorney after reportedly failing “to meet monetary obligations” with Cheryl Ramsey, Hill pleaded guilty to the charges and, thanks to a plea agreement with the district attorney’s office, received three years on probation.

According to The Oklahoman, “the plea agreement was eventually reached thanks in part to Hill’s voluntary efforts. Along with more than $1,000 in fines and court costs, a DNA sample, two years of state supervision, and proof of employment or student status, Hill’s probation requires he complete an anger management course and a 52-week Batterer’s Intervention Program.”

In 2015, West Alabama coach Brett Gilliland allowed Hill to join the football team. He played only one season for the Tigers before entering the 2016 NFL Draft.

Espinal eventually gave birth to Hill’s son.

Tyreek Hill NFL Draft controversy

Hill was not invited to the NFL Combine and, due to his 2014 arrest, was not expected to be drafted. The Chiefs were willing to take the risk after Hill ran a 4.25-second 40-yard dash at his pro day.

Kansas City drafted Hill in the fifth round of the 2016 NFL Draft at No. 165 overall.

“I just want everybody to understand that we have done our due diligence with regards to full vetting each one of our draft-class members,” said then-general manager John Dorsey, via The Kansas City Star. “We would never put anybody in this community in harm’s way.”

Added Chiefs coach Andy Reid: “There has to be a certain trust here, but there’s just things that we can’t go into and go through. We want people to understand, like Dorse said, we’re not going to do anything to put this community or this organization in a bind. We uncovered every possible stone that we possibly could, and we feel very comfortable with that part of it.”

Many Kansas City fans were upset with the selection. At rookie minicamp in May 2016, Hill told reporters he understood their concerns.

“The fans have every right to be mad at me,” Hill said. “I did something wrong. I let my emotions get the best of me, and I shouldn’t have did it. They have every right to be mad.

“But guess what? I’m fixing to come back, be a better man, be a better citizen, and everything takes care of itself, and let God do the rest.”

Dominating as a punt returner and a receiver, Hill earned three Pro Bowl selections and two All-Pro nods in his first three NFL seasons. Then, before the 2019 season, he found himself in trouble yet again.

Tyreek Hill child abuse investigation

On March 15, The Kansas City Star reported Hill was under police investigation for battery involving him and Espinal’s 3-year-old son, who had suffered a broken arm. By this time, Espinal had become Hill’s fiancee.

The Chiefs said they were aware of the situation but allowed Hill to participate in the team’s offseason program in April. The investigation led to Hill and Espinal temporarily losing custody of their son. On April 25, the Johnson County, Mo., district attorney announced that neither Hill nor Espinal would be charged with child abuse, but that a crime had occurred and the investigation remained active. The DA could not prove who did what to the child.

The NFL said it would wait until the Kansas Department of Children and Families concluded its own probe of the allegations before conducting its own investigation.

“I love and support my family above anything,” said Hill, who maintained all along he was innocent of committing a crime, via his attorney’s statement. “My son’s health and happiness is my number one priority. I want to thank the Kansas City Chiefs, my attorneys, my agent and my union for supporting me through this. My focus remains on working hard to be the best person for my family and our community I can be, and the best player to help our team win.”

The next night, during the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft, a Kansas City TV station released a recording of Hill and Espinal talking about what happened to their son, the criminal investigation into alleged abuse and how they handled it.

Early the next morning, the Chiefs suspended Hill indefinitely. GM Brett Veach said Hill would not take part in any team activities “for the foreseeable future.” Chiefs CEO and chairman Clark Hunt broke his silence on the saga that Saturday, saying the team would make the “right decision … at the right time.”

Hill’s attorney issued a four-page statement to the NFL that dismissed the child abuse claims levied against Hill by Espinal. It was unclear at the time to what extent the league was investigating the matter.

“We will not interfere with that,” NFL commissioner Roger Goodell told media in late May. He added that the league had not yet interviewed Hill, citing the ongoing court proceeding as the reason, but that it planned to do so.

On June 7, prosecutors said the child abuse probe involving Hill was no longer an active investigation, confirming that Hill would not face charges. Later that month, Yahoo! Sports reported Hill was scheduled to speak with the NFL. That meeting, on June 26, reportedly lasted eight hours. Unnamed sources told Yahoo! it was a “positive” day for Hill.

On July 19, the NFL declared Hill would not be suspended as a result of the league’s investigation, which according to a release had been ongoing since the beginning of the saga despite the NFL’s claim it was leaving the matter to local law enforcement. Below is the league’s explanatory statement in full:

“Over the past four months, we have conducted a comprehensive investigation of allegations regarding Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Tyreek Hill. Throughout this investigation, the NFL’s primary concern has been the well-being of the child. Our understanding is that the child is safe and that the child’s ongoing care is being directed and monitored by the Johnson County District Court and the Johnson County Department for Children and Families.

“In conducting our investigation, we have taken great care to ensure that we do not interfere with the county’s proceedings or compromise the privacy or welfare of the child in any way. The information developed in the court proceeding is confidential and has not been shared with us, and the court has sealed all law enforcement records. Local law enforcement authorities have publicly advised that the available evidence does not permit them to determine who caused the child’s injuries.

“Similarly, based on the evidence presently available, the NFL cannot conclude that Mr. Hill violated the Personal Conduct Policy. Accordingly, he may attend Kansas City’s training camp and participate in all club activities. He has been and will continue to be subject to conditions set forth by the District Court, Commissioner Goodell, and the Chiefs, which include clinical evaluation and therapeutic intervention.

“If further information becomes available through law enforcement, the pending court proceeding, or other sources, we will promptly consider it and take all appropriate steps at that time.”

The NFL’s decision not to discipline Hill stunned many in and around the league. The surprise stemmed not from the alleged violence — even though the NFL’s disciplinary process does not carry the same burden of proof as the legal system does — but from the threatening language in the recording. In particular: “You need to be terrified of me, too, dumb b—.”

Said NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy: “When viewed in the context of the full 11-minute, 27-second audio recording and all other information gathered, the statement did not rise to a level of warranting discipline under the personal conduct policy.”

Tyreek Hill assault allegations, settlement

On June 20, 2023, the Miami-Dade Police Department released a statement announcing that Hill was involved in an altercation at Haulover Marina in Miami Beach, Fla.

Hill was accused of slapping an employee in the back of the head following a “disagreement.”

A police report obtained by USA TODAY outlined that Hill and another man were fishing for tarpon off the marina dock, which was illegal. Then, two women in Hill’s party boarded a docked boat before paying for services, which upset the boat’s captain.

Hill’s responses to the captain? “I can buy you and the boat” and “I’m No. 10 of the Miami Dolphins.”

The alleged victim also claimed that one of Hill’s associates offered him $200 following the incident.

Miami-Dade Police investigated the alleged assault and battery but announced on June 21 that it was declining to pursue charges against Hill. The victim retained the right to pursue criminal charges through the state attorney’s office.

Eventually, Hill reached an undisclosed settlement with the alleged victim to prevent that. And in August of 2023, the NFL announced that it would not punish Hill for his latest off-field misstep.

Tyreek Hill broken leg lawsuit

On Feb. 27, 2024, it was revealed that Hill is facing a lawsuit from Instagram model Sophie Hall, who claims that the Dolphins receiver broke her leg while she participated in a football drill at his mansion.

The alleged incident occurred on June 28, 2023 — just eight days after Hill’s altercation at the marina — according to a copy of the lawsuit obtained by the Daily Mail.

“Defendant Hill invited Ms. Hall to participate in offensive drills with him,” the complaint reads. “Defendant Hill told her that ‘since her 10-year-old son played offensive lineman, she should practice that position as well.”

The lawsuit noted that the drills took place in a “playful” manner. However, Hall claims that Hill was “humiliated” after she was able to “hold her own” against him and even knock him back, on occasion. That led the “enraged” 29-year-old receiver to charge at her with “crushing force.”

Hill then “forcefully and purposefully shoved Ms. Hall, severely fracturing her leg,” which left her in “excruciating pain.”

Hall’s lawsuit against Hill contains pictures of her X-rays and screenshots of Hill’s DMs to her. The Instagram model also posted a video of herself in a wheelchair and cast last July, a few weeks after the alleged incident.

Hall had surgery as a result of the injury, has weekly physical therapy sessions and still experiences persistent pain in her leg, as outlined in the lawsuit. Her attorneys also referenced Hill’s checkered past without referencing any specific transgressions in the lawsuit.

“Defendant Hill’s aggression towards Ms. Hall is consistent with his history of violent and aggressive behavior towards women,” the lawsuit reads.

Tyreek Hill detainment 2024

Just hours before the Dolphins’ 2024 season opener, Hill was detained by police outside of Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium for a driving violation.

A bystander caught the arrest on video, where Hill is seen in handcuffs with multiple officers at the scene.

In addition, ESPN’s Adam Schefter posted a video showing Hill in handcuffs, lying on his stomach on the ground.

ESPN’s Jeff Darlington reported that Hill was “cited for reckless driving as a result of his incident outside the stadium with police.” Hill reportedly got into a “verbal altercation with police” after he was pulled over. As a result the officer “chose to place Hill in handcuffs” and he was “cited and released after the situation was deescalated.”

Once more information became available on the situation, the Miami-Dade Police Department put one of the officers responsible for Hill’s detainment on administrative leave.

The next day, Miami talk show host Andy Slater obtained the body cam footage of Hill’s arrest, further proving that the situation was overblown.

More body cam footage continues to be released. This clip is from the interaction between Hill and the police.

The body cam footage of what caused Hill to be pulled over. It was for speeding and reckless driving, and this is what he cop that pulled him over saw.

This is still an ongoing story with more developments to come.

Tyreek Hill’s comments about detainment

Following Miami’s Week 1 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars, Hill spoke to the media during the postgame press conference. He discusses the detainment, adding his personal experience to the conversation. Hill lightly discusses police reform, asking, “What if I wasn’t Tyreek Hill?”

The night after the detainment, Hill was interviewed by CNN to provide further context. He described what happened before the game and then took a firmer stance on police reform. Hill mentions the nonviolent protests that players have tried in the past, and now he hopes that he and his situation can be a spark for change.