The Kansas City Chiefs are trying to find a way to regain their explosive form on offense this offseason. The return of offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy was one step in the right direction, and it may convince Travis Kelce to put off retirement for one more year.
But while Kelce’s return is up in the air, it’s not the only reunion that could help the Chiefs' offense.
Wideout Tyreek Hill has been in Chiefs fans' thoughts over the past year and was one of the other players who benefited greatly from having Bienemy at the controls. Hill was clearly thinking of those days when he posted “EB to the Chiefs hm” on his X account on Thursday, leading to discussions about whether a return to Kansas City was on the menu this offseason.
While it would be fun to break out the red No. 10 jerseys one more time, Hill’s return would be nothing more than nostalgia. With Hill at a different point in his career, it may not be worth the trouble to bring him back, and the Chiefs have to resist the temptation to jump into the time machine and make Hill part of their offensive plan for 2026.
Chiefs Should Snub Tyreek Hill’s Campaign to Reunite with Eric Bieniemy
Hill is likely seeing what other fans have been for the past year. The Chiefs do not look like the Super Bowl-winning machine of old, as their offense ranked 25th in yards per play (5.1) and 21st in points per game in 2025. The group of receivers also proved to be paper-thin, with Xavier Worthy battling injuries, Rashee Rice working around a six-game suspension, and Marquise “Hollywood” Brown not doing much of anything to help the cause.
With the Chiefs’ receiver room in shambles, Hill might see Bieniemy’s hiring as a chance to save his career.
Hill was tremendous throughout his time in Kansas City, but he took off under Biemiemy’s guidance, averaging 85 catches for 1,213 yards and 10 touchdowns per season from 2018 to 2022. Those numbers also include a 2018 campaign where Hill caught 87 passes for 1,479 yards and 12 touchdowns, and the Chiefs were able to take home a Super Bowl in 2019 despite missing four games with a clavicle injury.
While the Chiefs traded Hill to the Miami Dolphins after the 2021 season, and Hill exploded for 238 catches, 3,509 yards, and 20 touchdowns in his first two seasons with Mike McDaniel, things fell off during the 2024 season, catching 81 passes for 959 yards and six touchdowns. Hill entered 2025 with plenty of questions, but was unable to answer them after suffering a multi-ligament knee injury after four games.
The injury may be where the nostalgia turns into a sobering reality. Hill doesn’t appear to be the same player he once was, and is still under contract with the Miami Dolphins. While it appears his release is likely with a new regime led by general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan and head coach Jeff Hafley coming to town, it’s not a smart bet that Hill will be the old version of himself going into his age-32 season coming off a major injury.
Instead, this may be a chance to get Worthy more involved or perhaps use Tyquan Thornton, whose 4.28-second 40-yard dash is on par with the 4.29-second time that Tyreek Hill put up coming out of Cincinnati in 2016. Thornton is also significantly younger (he’ll turn 26 in September) and cheaper than bringing Hill back would be without the risk of being a lemon or crashing out on the sideline when he doesn’t get the ball.
While the Chiefs may need reinforcements, they’re better off letting some other team take the gamble on Hill and not fall for his latest attempt to force his way back to Kansas City.