It’s nothing new these days to take a closer look at Tyreek Hill and realize he’s a rare player. From his jaw-dropping top speed even in full pads to his ability to make the contested catch despite his size to his tremendous production as a receiver or returner, there’s little he cannot do as a well-rounded offensive threat—perhaps the most dynamic offensive weapon in the entire National Football League.
But this offseason, we’ve been able to look even closer at his body of work at some of the tremendous numbers he’s been able to put up over time. Suffice it to say, it only enhances his reputation even more.
Every season features new players who come in as exciting players who look fast or put up a crazy stat line. It’s something else entirely to remain this dynamic and continue up such tremendous production year after year, especially in such a physical sport. The Chiefs haven’t seen this sort of dynamic player since Jamaal Charles retired, and even Charles is a great example of how difficult it is to put together consistent output at the highest level in the NFL.
Only 33 players in NFL history have ever made the Pro Bowl in each of his first five seasons and Tyreek Hill is one of them.
To his credit, Hill has done everything off the field he can to make sure he’s ready on it and the numbers speak for themselves. To date, Hill has 58 total touchdowns as a receiver, a returner and a rusher in only 74 games. That’s with a several game absence due to a broken collarbone in 2019 and limited use during his rookie year in which he wasn’t quite ready for starting wideout reps in Andy Reid‘s offense.
Ever since the Chiefs placed him in the WR1 role in 2017, Hill has averaged 77 catches for 1,200 yards and 10 touchdowns per season for four straight seasons. He did this with Alex Smith as his quarterback for half of that time, so it’s not as if Hill is just dependent on the arm of Patrick Mahomes to pad his stats. Instead, Hill was already an elite weapon in the Chiefs offense before Mahomes ever stood under center.
Currently, he’s tied for No. 12 overall with Carl Pickens and Marvin Harrison for the most receiving touchdowns through a player’s first five years of his career with 47 total. (Jerry Rice set an incredible mark of 66.) Hill is also tied at No. 17 overall for most touchdowns total (58) through the same span. (LaDanian Tomlinson leads the list with 80.)
For some historical perspective, Hill has been voted to the Pro Bowl in each of his first five NFL seasons. Only 33 players in NFL history have been given that honor and only two of those are wide receivers: Hill and longtime Cincinnati Bengals wideout A.J. Green. If Hill makes it again in 2021, he’ll join only 22 players who have made it six for six in terms of Pro Bowls made equalling seasons played. Green has the WR record with a Pro Bowl appearance in each of his first 7 NFL seasons.
What’s amazing about Hill is that he’s only just now 27 years old, which means his prime seasons are all ahead of him. There’s every reason to expect him to make multiple Pro Bowls in the future, and at this rate, he has a real chance to enter long-term NFL greatness if he can keep up the production.