The NFL is investigating Tyreek Hill after the Miami Dolphins wide receiver allegedly assaulted a man at Haulover Park Marina in Miami-Dade County last week. The league has “officially requested video from police” of the incident, according to Miami reporter Andy Slater. As the NFL looks into the events of last week, what is Hill’s current legal status, and will the league decide to suspend him?
UPDATE (Aug. 31): Hill will not be suspended by the NFL for his role in this incident, according to NFL Network.
Will the NFL Suspend Tyreek Hill?
On the evening of June 18, two women accompanying Hill allegedly boarded a private fishing boat at the Haulover Park Marina.
When the boat’s captain, a 57-year-old male, asked them to get off the boat, Hill “became enraged and attempted to enter the boat to cause him bodily harm but was held back by unknown associates,” according to a supplemental police report obtained by the South Florida Sun Sentinel.
As the altercation ensued, Hill eventually slapped the man on the back of his head and neck. Hill later attempted to apologize and reportedly offered the man $200, which he denied, per the report. Surveillance footage reviewed by police confirmed accounts from the boat captain and other employees on site.
The Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office is now investigating the incident. NBC6 in South Florida recently reported that the victim was willing to press charges against Hill, but no charges have been filed as of yet.
On July 24, Hill’s attorney and the attorney for Kelly Fleet Inc. (the boat company in question) issued a joint statement, per ESPN: “The parties to the incident which occurred on June 18th, 2023 at the Haulover Marina involving Tyreek Hill have resolved their differences.”
The NFL has not issued an official statement on the Hill incident. The Dolphins, meanwhile, said they “have been in contact with Tyreek” but “will reserve further comment at this time.”
How Likely Is a Hill Suspension?
It’s difficult to gauge the likelihood of a Hill suspension until the NFL’s investigation plays out. But the league has the right to suspend any player under the NFL personal conduct policy for a list of infractions, including “actual or threatened violence against another person.”
Even if Hill never faces criminal or civil charges, the NFL can still take action. NFL players have been suspended in the past without ever being charged with a crime. Most recently, the league banned Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson for 10 games for claims of sexual harassment and misconduct, even though he was never charged.
The fact that video footage of the alleged incident exists doesn’t bode well for Hill, nor does the NFL’s interest in viewing that footage. However, now that Hill has “resolved” his differences with the alleged victim, the league seems less likely to step intervene and issue a suspension.
Hill has a history of off-field incidents. Before entering the NFL, he pleaded guilty to domestic assault and batter strangulation after assaulting his pregnant girlfriend. In 2019, Hill was investigated for alleged child abuse after his three-year-old son suffered a broken arm. No charges were filed, and the NFL declined to suspend Hill after finding that he had not violated the league’s personal conduct policy.
Even if the NFL decides to suspend Hill for his most recent incident, a ban is unlikely to take effect in 2023. League investigations typically take a while to sort out, and any Hill suspension would likely wait until 2024. For example, New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara allegedly assaulted a man in Las Vegas in March 2022 but has not yet been handed any discipline from the NFL.