The Dolphins released Hill in February 2026 as part of a major roster overhaul that also included the departure of quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. Miami decided to move on from several key players while beginning a new chapter under its current leadership, ending Hill’s four-year tenure with the franchise.

Meanwhile, the Chiefs have emerged as a potential destination for the former All-Pro receiver. Rumors of a reunion have gained attention in recent weeks, with Hill potentially joining an offense featuring Patrick Mahomes, Kenneth Walker III and Travis Kelce. However, despite the speculation surrounding Kansas City, there is still no official agreement between the two sides.

When will Tyreek Hill return and play in the NFL?

Tyreek Hill’s return to the NFL is currently uncertain, as the wide receiver continues recovering from the serious knee injury he suffered during the 2025 season. Although a November comeback has been discussed as a potential possibility, there is no confirmed return date, and his recovery will ultimately determine when he can resume playing.

The veteran suffered a dislocated knee and multiple ligament tears, including an ACL injury, in September 2025. His rehabilitation has involved multiple surgeries, and Hill recently acknowledged that he is still working to regain strength in his injured leg. His agent has also indicated that the priority is ensuring he is fully prepared before signing with a team.

Being a free agent gives Hill the flexibility to sign with any NFL team interested in his services without requiring a trade. The Chiefs have become one of the most frequently discussed destinations because of his previous success in Kansas City and the possibility of reuniting with Mahomes. However, head coach Andy Reid previously indicated that nothing was happening regarding a potential signing.

For now, Hill’s future remains tied to his recovery. A return in November could give a team an opportunity to add an explosive offensive weapon for the second half of the season and potentially a Super Bowl run. Kansas City remains a possible destination, but Hill must first get healthy before any reunion becomes official.

Key takeaways

• Tyreek Hill remains an unsigned free agent due to a knee injury.
• The Dolphins released the wide receiver in February 2026 during roster changes.
• A potential return is targeted for November as recovery continues.

One important detail to keep in mind is that the MTV Video Music Awards are also taking place today, Sunday, September 27. The event is being held in Los Angeles, so Swift’s schedule could make it difficult for her to attend the ceremony if she travels to Miami.

So far in the 2026 NFL season, Swift has been in the stands for the Chiefs’ victories. Both games, played at Arrowhead Stadium, ended in wins over the Denver Broncos and the Indianapolis Colts.

The singer is often seen alongside Kelce at various points throughout the season, although there is still no confirmation that she will travel to Miami for Week 3. If her presence can be considered a good-luck charm, having her at the stadium could potentially provide a boost for the Chiefs.

Kelce is back to his best in 2026

Travis Kelce is off to a flying start in the 2026 season, racking up 172 receiving yards on 12 catches and a touchdown through the first two games to keep the Chiefs undefeated. He looks completely rejuvenated out on the field, and even Andy Reid credited Kelce and Taylor Swift’s marriage for giving the veteran tight end that extra spark and work ethic heading into his 14th year in the league.

When is the Chiefs’ next game at Arrowhead?

After back-to-back road trips against the Dolphins in Week 3 and the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 4, followed by their Week 5 bye, the Chiefs finally return to Arrowhead Stadium for their next home game on Sunday, October 18, to face the Los Angeles Chargers. It marks their first game in Kansas City in nearly a month, making it the ideal spot for Taylor Swift to return to her luxury suite and cheer on Travis Kelce as divisional action resumes.

Key takeaways

• Taylor Swift’s attendance is not guaranteed at Hard Rock Stadium for Week 3.
• Travis Kelce recorded 172 receiving yards and one touchdown through two games.
• Kansas City returns to Arrowhead Stadium for their next home game on October 18.

“I think this offense, being able to run the ball, becomes exponentially more explosive,” Brady said on Fox Sports. “And that should scare a lot of teams in the NFL.”

The Miami Dolphins are not expected to put up much of a fight over the weekend against the Chiefs, but that will only provide Andy Reid’s team with another opportunity to impress Brady. All of this comes with Tyreek Hill in sight to join the Chiefs.

Brady impressed by Chiefs’ quality

And it is not just Mahomes these days. The addition of Kenneth Walker III has made a big difference, Brady said. That has been noticeable in both games, with Mahomes even using it as an advantage to expose himself less after returning from his injury.

“I think one thing that’s not only impressed me, but should honestly scare the rest of the NFL is the Chiefs’ running game,” Brady said. “That’s kind of been an afterthought, even in all of their championship seasons. It really wasn’t a running team. It was a lot of passing the football. Passing to (Travis) Kelce, passing to Tyreek Hill, Sammy Watkins.”

But things have changed with the addition of Walker. And not just Walker, but the explosiveness of Walker himself. In two games, he has rushed for a massive 290 yards with a touchdown. He is averaging a shocking 6.2 yards per carry in the 2026 NFL season.

“You got Kenneth Walker running the way that he is,” Brady said. “They’ve got to come down and try to tackle him. As soon as they do that, that exposes a lot of one-on-one opportunities for Mahomes. And you know he’s going to find those.”

The fact is the Chiefs come as a big favorite for this game, and the Dolphins‘ WR room is very young, but also deals with a great amount of injuries. However, Dolphins head coach Jeff Hafley provided updates.

Hafley said Caleb Douglas won’t play vs Chiefs due to an ankle injury that occured in Week 2’s game. On the flip side, Chris Bell is expected to play after overcoming some knee injury in recent weeks.

The Dolphins WR room is intriguing

Both Douglas and Bell are rookies, so the Dolphins have heavy capital invested in the WR depth chart. However, Bell has a long history of injuries since college, and Douglas is already sidelined. Hence, the question is not their talent, but their availability.

Alongside both rookies, Malik Washington is also on the slot. Now, the team is married to quarterback Malik Willis for the foreseeable future, but that doesn’t mean they can change that in future NFL drafts.

The Chiefs should deal with Dolphins WR quite a lot

Given how this game is expected to go, the Chiefs might have to deal with Bell and Washington a lot. Assuming the status quo remains, the Dolphins will be trailing a lot in this game, which will prompt them to go all-in on their passing attack.

Hence, Bell and Washington should be featured as key parts of the offense. The Chiefs got burned in Week 2 by the Colts. So, Steve Spagnuolo, as the team’s defensive coordinator, will have to plan a smart scheme.

Key takeaways

• Caleb Douglas will miss Week 3 against Kansas City due to a Week 2 ankle injury.
• Rookie receiver Chris Bell is expected to suit up vs Chiefs despite his recent knee issues.
• The Dolphins defense expects a heavy passing workload after Chiefs surrendered big yards in Week 2.

There is also an obvious connection that makes the Chargers particularly intriguing. Offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel previously worked with Hill in Miami, where the receiver became a fundamental piece of an explosive offense built around Tua Tagovailoa. McDaniel’s system consistently created opportunities for Hill to use his speed, and their familiarity could make Los Angeles a logical environment if Hill is looking for an offense where he already understands the concepts and expectations.

The presence of Herbert would only make the possibility more interesting. The Chargers already have the quarterback capable of taking advantage of Hill’s ability to create separation and stretch defenses vertically. After a slower start to the season, Harbaugh could eventually find himself needing another major offensive weapon, particularly if Los Angeles remains in contention despite a brutal schedule. Hill would represent a very different type of addition from simply adding depth.

Is Tyreek Hill a free agent?

Yes. Tyreek Hill is a free agent and can sign with any team, meaning the Chargers would not have to negotiate a trade to acquire him. The biggest obstacle is timing. Hill is still recovering from his injury, and his return could come as late as the beginning of November. His agent, Drew Rosenhaus, has indicated that there is no desire to accelerate the recovery process, with the goal instead being to allow Hill to become fully healthy before choosing his next team.

That timeline could make the Chargers’ situation particularly interesting. Los Angeles would have to remain in the playoff picture while navigating a difficult portion of its schedule, potentially creating a situation in which Hill becomes available precisely when teams are determining whether they need another difference-maker for the postseason. The Chargers would need to keep that possibility open rather than committing their future plans before knowing how the season develops.

Chiefs might sign Tyreek Hill

The Chiefs could represent one of the biggest obstacles if Tyreek Hill ultimately decides to return to Kansas City. Rumors of a potential reunion have already grown, and Kansas City has the familiarity and history with Hill that could make the fit obvious. That could turn the market into a competition in which the eventual destination is determined not only by the offensive fit but also by which contender is willing to present Hill with the most attractive overall opportunity.

For the Chargers, however, the equation is worth monitoring. Herbert gives Hill the kind of quarterback capable of maximizing his vertical ability, while McDaniel provides a coach who already understands how to use him. If Los Angeles can remain competitive through Hill’s recovery and the team decides it needs another offensive weapon for the stretch run, the Chargers could become a compelling option when the veteran is finally ready to return.

Key takeaways

• The Chargers could be an appealing destination for wide receiver Tyreek Hill due to offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel’s scheme.
• Hill is currently an unrestricted free agent recovering from an injury, with a potential return projected around November.
• His agent, Drew Rosenhaus, stated there is no desire to rush his recovery timeline before selecting his next team.

It’s been a long time since Hill called Kansas City and Arrowhead Stadium home in the NFL, but it still feels like yesterday when Mahomes was slinging the pigskin and, wherever he threw, Hill was there. Hill has gone on to say some things that raised eyebrows and have stuck with the Chiefs, including statements about his teammates in Miami that appeared to belittle Mahomes and his friends back in Missouri. As fun as Hill’s time in South Florida was, he will always be remembered as a Chief first and a Dolphin second.

After some time away and fighting his own battle to recover from a devastating, career-threatening knee injury, it might be time to come home. Of course, that’s not Tyreek’s call to make, but reports suggest Kansas City is seriously considering a reunion, and it’s only a matter of time before Andy Reid gives the sign to dial Hill’s number. In fact, the San Francisco 49ers have been ruled out as a potential suitor, with Hill expected to reunite with the Chiefs.

“With Kansas City, it feels inevitable that there’s going to be a conversation at some point,” Mike Garafolo reported on the market around Tyreek Hill, who remains an unrestricted free agent, via NFL Network. “There’s nothing on the front burner, but there’s got to be somewhere on the back burner.”

Is Tyreek Hill a good fit for the Chiefs?

The obvious answer would be yes. It’s Hill we’re speaking of. He put up 479 catches for 6,630 receiving yards and 67 touchdowns throughout his time with the Chiefs and built a connection with Mahomes that no other receiver not named Travis Kelce ever did. However, 2026 Tyreek Hill may not be the same as he was before. And we don’t even know whether Hill will play this year at all.

Indeed, he looks great in the videos he posts on social media, working out and going through drills, but will that translate to the field once he puts on the pads and actually faces the elite competitors in the NFL?

More importantly, is Hill really healthy in a sustainable way, where he isn’t one unfortunate play away from having to call it a career? Those are all tough questions, but the Chiefs, or any team that looks into Hill, will need answers to them.

Away from that deeper level, where really it’s all uncertainty because there’s no way of telling the future and whether Hill may re-injure his left knee, there are questions around what kind of player Tyreek will be upon his return to the NFL and whether he is what Kansas City is looking for.

Chiefs need a deep-threat WR

As is, the Chiefs need to bolster their deep-passing offense. Xaview Worthy hasn’t truly filled in Hill’s shoes and has transformed into another role. He hasn’t been used much on deep routes since his rookie year, and when he is assigned such a duty, he doesn’t take the top off the secondary or get as much separation as the team would hope for.

The thing with Tyreek is, his speed is everything. That’s who he is on the gridiron and what made him unguardable. If he loses his speed, he might be able to reinvent himself as a different NFL player, even with how difficult that’d be at 32. But if Hill is no longer able to turn into “Cheetah” on the field, then he may not be that appealing an option for the Chiefs, other than from the return-of-the-rebellious-son point of view.

Mahomes could profit from Hill’s return

Coming off his season-ending injury last year, Mahomes hasn’t put his rocket of an arm to use too often, either. Perhaps that’s a mix of his own lack of confidence, trying to progressively ramp up his workload, and a lack of trust in his receivers in such situations.

Through the first few weeks, the game plan and Mahomes’ decisions have rather played it safe, handing it off to Kenneth Walker III and looking for short- to medium-range passes where Travis Kelce, Rashee Rice and others can work their magic with their run-after-catch abilities. If there was a RAC university, Hill would be the dean, as he needs to be taught no lessons on that front. Still, it remains to be seen how Hill looks coming off the gruesome knee injury he suffered in 2025.

Kansas City has a soft spot for Tyreek, and vice versa

Regardless of all the question marks surrounding Hill in free agency, there’s something in the air. It simply feels like it will happen. It may not be easy and might require the Chiefs to take a leap of faith, but not even all the doubts appear to be dealbreakers between Reek and KC. Someone check the air and water quality in the City of Fountains; it all reeks of a reunion brewing.

Key takeaways

• Mike Garafolo reports conversations between Chiefs and Tyreek Hill are “inevitable”.
• Tyreek Hill remains an unrestricted free agent following a career-threatening knee injury.
• He recorded 479 catches for 6,630 yards and 67 touchdowns during his previous Chiefs tenure.

That early success has already changed the conversation surrounding the Chiefs. After spending much of the offseason hearing doubts about the team, Kansas City is now being discussed once again as a potential Super Bowl contender. Mahomes, however, knows how quickly that narrative can change in the NFL, and he believes his teammates must maintain the mentality that helped them respond to all the criticism they received during the offseason.

“In this league, it’s week to week. One week they’re patting on your back and one week they’re telling you that you’re terrible. I think all offseason we heard about how bad we were and guys were super hungry. They came in with that mentality. I think that’s why we’ve had the success that we’ve had these first two weeks.”

Patrick Mahomes wants the Chiefs to keep their hunger

Patrick Mahomes went even further with his warning, pointing out that the Chiefs are now facing a completely different kind of challenge. Instead of entering games with everyone questioning whether Kansas City can return to the top of the NFL, the Chiefs are once again receiving praise after their 2-0 start. For Mahomes, that praise can become dangerous if it causes the team to lose the urgency it carried throughout the offseason.

The quarterback emphasized that Kansas City is nowhere close to reaching its desired level, even though outside expectations have already changed dramatically. The Chiefs still have an entire season ahead of them, and Mahomes believes the team must continue treating every week as an opportunity to improve rather than allowing its undefeated record to create complacency.

“It’s like, how can you keep that hunger? Now, everybody is saying we’re amazing and that we’re great. We gotta keep the hunger that we had this entire offseason. We’re nowhere near where we want to be. We’re still so early in the season. There’s still so much for us to learn and to get better at. We have to have that mentality week in and week out if we want to go out there and have success.”

The message from Mahomes is clear: a 2-0 record has given the Chiefs a strong start, but it has not solved everything. Kansas City has already experienced two very different games, and the quarterback understands that the expectations surrounding the team can shift just as quickly. With the Chiefs now receiving the praise they spent the offseason chasing, Mahomes wants his teammates to make sure that success does not take away the hunger that helped them reach this point.

Key takeaways

• The Kansas City Chiefs opened their season 2-0 with wins over Denver and Indianapolis.
• Patrick Mahomes urged teammates to keep their offseason hunger despite new praise.
• The quarterback emphasized that the team remains nowhere near where they want to be.

That has created pressure on Xavier Worthy and Rashee Rice to take another step as the season progresses. Both receivers have the talent to become major weapons for Mahomes, but Kansas City could eventually decide that adding another proven playmaker is worth exploring if the passing game remains inconsistent.

That is where Tyreek Hill becomes an intriguing possibility. A late-season return to the Chiefs would be complicated by his recovery and would depend entirely on his physical condition, but if Hill can get healthy enough to contribute, the idea of using him as a WR3 rather than asking him to carry the offense could make the reunion particularly attractive.

Why could Tyreek Hill make sense for the Chiefs?

The Chiefs do not necessarily need Tyreek Hill to be the player who dominated defenses during his first stint with the organization. Kansas City would have a very different role available for him in 2026, one that could allow the veteran receiver to operate as another explosive weapon alongside Rice and Worthy while Travis Kelce continues to play a major role in the passing game.

That distinction could make a potential reunion more realistic. The Chiefs would not need to build their offense around Hill or immediately give him an enormous workload. Instead, they could use his speed selectively, force defenses to respect the deep ball and create more space for Mahomes and the rest of the offense.

The pressure on Worthy and Rice would also change if Hill arrived. Rather than asking two younger receivers to consistently provide explosive plays, Kansas City could distribute that responsibility across a deeper group. Worthy could continue developing while Rice remains one of Mahomes’ primary targets, with Hill providing another threat capable of changing how defenses approach the Chiefs.

A reunion could be huge for the Chiefs

Travis Kelce has already shown that he can remain a major part of the offense, giving Mahomes a reliable option in the middle of the field. Adding Hill to that equation would theoretically give Kansas City a collection of weapons with very different skill sets, creating more possibilities for Andy Reid and the offensive staff.

The biggest question, however, would be Hill’s health. He is recovering from a serious knee injury, and the Chiefs would have to determine whether he can still create the separation and explosiveness that made him one of the NFL’s most dangerous receivers.

If Hill is healthy enough to contribute late in the season, his potential role as a third wide receiver could be particularly interesting. He would not need to be the same Tyreek Hill who left Kansas City in 2022; he would simply need to be good enough to force defenses to account for him. It’s important to remember that Hill is a free agent and that makes things less complicated.

For a Chiefs team that could be competing deep into the season, that type of addition could become increasingly appealing. Kansas City already has the quarterback, coaching staff and offensive foundation to contend, but adding another proven playmaker could give Mahomes another weapon when the games become more important.

A Hill reunion remains hypothetical at this point, and there is no guarantee that the Chiefs will pursue him. But if Kansas City continues winning while its passing game leaves room for improvement, bringing Hill back late in the season could become one of the more fascinating possibilities to monitor.

“We have to get better at executing in the red zone, because that’s what wins you football games,” Mahomes stated during his press conference. A field goal can contribute to a victory, but a touchdown is more effective.

The quarterback also spoke about maintaining a winning mindset from game to game: “In this league, it’s week-to-week… All offseason, we heard about how bad we were… How can you keep that hunger now that everyone is praising you, telling you you’re great… We’re nowhere near where we want to be… You have to go out every week and have that mentality if you want to have success.”

One way or another, the Chiefs are doing a great job and currently hold a 2-0 record. As the weeks go by, it will be interesting to see whether they can ultimately make the necessary adjustments on offense to become a more lethal team in the red zone.

Chiefs’ offensive firepower

Through the first two weeks of the 2026 season, the Chiefs’ offense has been putting up points, racking up 7 total touchdowns (5 passing, 2 rushing) and sticking to their high-powered scoring routine. Harrison Butker has stayed sharp as well, hitting 5 of his 6 field goal attempts over the two-game stretch.

As for Patrick Mahomes‘ go-to partner, Travis Kelce remains his primary target in the air—leading the team with 12 catches for 172 yards and a touchdown—though newly acquired running back Kenneth Walker III has quickly turned into an explosive centerpiece for the overall attack.

Kansas City wants to keep the momentum going

The Chiefs are heading into a key divisional stretch, starting with two straight road games before taking an early breather. First up in Week 3, they hit the road to take on the Miami Dolphins, followed by a quick trip out West in Week 4 for a classic AFC West rivalry showdown against the Las Vegas Raiders. After that division battle, Kansas City gets its BYE week in Week 5 to recharge before returning home to Arrowhead in Week 6 to host the Los Angeles Chargers.

Key takeaways

• Quarterback Patrick Mahomes stated the Kansas City Chiefs must execute better in the red zone.
• Harrison Butker has converted 5 of 6 field goals through two games this season.
• Kansas City faces the Miami Dolphins on the road in Week 3 of the schedule.

Swift attended Week 2’s Sunday Night Football between the Chiefs and Indianapolis Colts at Arrowhead Stadium, just like she did in Week 1 when Kansas City hosted another primetime game against the Denver Broncos. She was a privileged spectator to a dominant performance by her husband, Kelce. Following the Chiefs’ buzzer-beater win over the Colts in overtime, Reid made a sincere statement about Kelce’s wife’s role in his recent success.

“[Kelce] worked his tail off, that’s the bottom line. He likes his surrounding cast that’s around him, too. It sure helps. It takes a lot of pride in that. Everybody questioned with the wedding and honeymoon, would he be out of shape? He works his rear end off. I think Taylor [Swift], you’re putting on four-hour shows, you’ve gotta work hard, too. I’m sure she kicks him in the butt a little bit there, too,” Reid said during an interview on KSHB 41 News.

Iron sharpens iron. Since the couple got together, there were concerns about whether Swift would be a distraction to Kelce on gameday as the spotlight shifted onto the Kelce family suite at Arrowhead Stadium. That couldn’t have been any further from the truth, and since the two superstars wed in the summer in New York City, they’ve only been off to a great start, which is best exemplified by Kelce’s numbers in the 2026 NFL season.

Kelce’s red-hot start to 2026

While Reid faces a challenge in balancing Kenneth Walker III and Emmett Johnson’s touches in the backfield, it’s clear he has no worries when it comes to the tight-end position. Not as long as Kelce is playing the way he’s done so far in the 2026 NFL season.

After dealing with retirement rumors all offseason long and coming off a disheartening 2025 campaign in which he finished with a third-career-worst 76 receptions, second-worst 851 yards and five touchdowns, something has clicked for Kelce. Reid has reasons to believe it has to do with his wedding, held on July 3 at Madison Square Garden.

Indeed, the sample size remains small, but Kelce’s first two outings of the season are more than encouraging. So far, Kelce has caught 12 passes for 172 yards and a touchdown. At this pace, he’s projected to finish the season with 102 catches, 1,462 receiving yards and eight touchdowns.

It goes without saying, but those would be impressive numbers for a 36-year-old (turns 37 on Oct. 5) many believe is playing his last season in the NFL. If he finishes the year with these numbers, however, it won’t take long before fans in Kansas City, and Reid included, grow convinced there’s still a lot left in the tank.

The Chiefs are back

There will be time for that conversation later. For the time being, Reid and the Chiefs will enjoy this reborn version of Kelce, which Swift may deserve a lot of credit for. In perfect “Love Story” fashion, there is a new prince and princess in The City of Fountains, and that’s just what the Chiefs Kingdom needed.

Patrick Mahomes is healthy, Andy Reid is still Andy Reid, and Travis Kelce is back to his old ways. The sky is the limit for Kansas City, and the NFL must take cover before the sky is painted red.

Key takeaways

• Andy Reid credited Taylor Swift’s work ethic for motivating her husband’s strong season start.
• Travis Kelce caught 12 passes for 172 yards and a touchdown through two games.
• The couple officially married on July 3 at Madison Square Garden in New York.

“I was thinking about this, they’re gonna have to bring someone in,” Shasky said. “It’s probably too early for trades, though I do believe there are some trades that are gonna go down … Let me give you some of the free agents the Niners could sign this week given the Demarcus Robinson injury. Tyreek Hill? No, they’re not gonna do it. This team’s not bringing him in. I’m just gonna tell everyone right now: the Chiefs will, [the Niners] won’t.”

Hill’s history with Chiefs Kingdom could bring him back to Andy Reid’s team, although he would need to be at 100% physically to reach an agreement. For now, it appears that Kyle Shanahan’s 49ers will not have Cheetah’s services.

Hill looks to get back to full strength

Tyreek Hill is working his way back from a horrific left knee injury—including a knee dislocation and multiple torn ligaments like his ACL—suffered last September while still with the Dolphins. After undergoing two surgeries, being released by Miami in February, and navigating a long rehab process where doctors initially worried he might never run the same, the 32-year-old speedster is currently unsigned.

While Hill recently admitted he’s still rebuilding power in that left leg, his agent Drew Rosenhaus noted that medical staff are eyeing a potential return to action around October—meaning once he gets full medical clearance, a contending team will likely scoop him up mid-season for a playoff push.

Hill’s time with the Chiefs

Tyreek Hill’s six-year run with Kansas City from 2016 to 2021 was nothing short of electric, establishing him as the ultimate big-play threat in Andy Reid’s offense. Over 91 regular-season games in KC, Cheetah caught 479 passes for 6,630 receiving yards and 56 receiving TDs, while adding another 712 rushing yards and 6 TDs on the ground.

He made the Pro Bowl in all six of his seasons with the Chiefs, earned three First-Team All-Pro selections, and played a massive role in reaching back-to-back Super Bowls—including bringing home the ring in Super Bowl LIV. He truly transformed the way defenses had to cover Kansas City before being traded to Miami in 2022.

Key takeaways

• Free agent wide receiver Tyreek Hill is reportedly expected to sign with Kansas City rather than San Francisco.
• A target return window around October remains set following two knee surgeries.
• During six seasons with KC, he recorded 479 receptions for 6,630 receiving yards.