NFL Return or Retirement? Chiefs Lead Tyreek Hill Next Team Odds

After suffering a major knee injury in September of last year, Tyreek Hill was released by Miami in February. Hill dislocated his left knee and suffered multiple ligament tears, including a torn ACL. 

Injuries of that severity can be difficult to return from, especially for a player in his 30s. However, Hill’s agent, Drew Rosenhaus, has said that Hill is running again, although he does not yet feel ready to sign with a team. 

Rosenhaus has also indicated that Hill is unlikely to sign before the season begins but still expects him to pursue a return at some point during the 2026 NFL season.

With Rosenhaus indicating a return later this season, prediction markets are already considering where Hill could land once he's ready to suit up, with Kansas City standing out as one of the most likely destinations at 24%. Tampa Bay is also viewed as a plausible landing spot, while a return to Miami remains another possibility.

Source: Kalshi, August 26, 2026 - $386,049 Volume - Settled December, 2026

Tyreek Hill has been making progress in his recovery, but there is still no guarantee that he will return to the level of play that made him one of the NFL’s most explosive wide receivers.

Hill’s injury was more serious than a standard ACL tear. His injury resulted in a knee dislocation and damaged multiple ligaments, an injury that is difficult for most athletes to fully recover from. One study examining NFL players with multi-ligament knee injuries found that around 64% eventually returned to play, but only 30% returned to their previous level of performance. Players who suffered a complete knee dislocation faced an even more difficult recovery.

An injury of this nature is even more impactful for a player like Tyreek Hill, whose game has always relied heavily on acceleration and speed. Even if he's able to recover to the point of competing again in the NFL, his ability to get open downfield will likely not be the same as it was.

There are, however, encouraging signs. Hill has already progressed to running again, and his agent Drew Rosenhaus said in August that he expects Hill to return during the 2026 season. Hill himself has also shared videos of his rehabilitation, although he acknowledged in July that he was still working to regain strength and power in his injured leg.

Although it isn't likely that Hill will return as the player he once was, there is a realistic chance he can still compete in the NFL. 

Despite Kansas City currently leading markets as the most likely next team for Tyreek Hill, there has been no official indication that a reunion is being actively discussed.

When asked about Tyreek Hill after Miami released him in February, Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said there was “nothing happening” between the two sides. Reid did acknowledge that Kansas City considers all available options, but Hill’s health remained the most notable concern at the time.

The Chiefs might make sense as a landing spot if Hill becomes available later in the season, particularly if their current receiving offense continues to struggle as it did the previous season.

Kansas City will enter the 2026 season relying on Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy as its top two receivers. Worthy will be coming off a disappointing second season, where he recorded 532 receiving yards and just one touchdown, while Rice has only played 28 games across his first three NFL seasons due to injuries and suspensions.

Another concern is that the Chiefs did very little to upgrade their receiving group coming into this season. No wide receiver reached 600 yards in 2025, in addition to Marquise Brown and JuJu Smith-Schuster having since left the team. The Chiefs are instead once again counting on Worthy and Rice, along with players such as Tyquan Thornton and Jalen Royals taking on larger roles.

These factors could make Hill more appealing, especially if the receiving end of the offense fails to improve. Even at 32 and coming off a major knee injury, a healthy Hill would give Patrick Mahomes an experienced downfield option and a player already familiar with Andy Reid’s offense.