Body camera footage of Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill’s traffic stop and subsequent detainment by Miami-Dade County police officers has been released, sparking outrage and concern across the NFL community and beyond.
The video, which was made public on Monday evening, shows Hill being pulled over by police officers on his way to Hard Rock Stadium for the Dolphins’ season opener against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The incident escalated quickly when Hill rolled up the window of his sports car after initially rolling it down to hand over his driver’s license.
The footage captures officers cursing at Hill and demanding that he keep his window down or get out of the car. When Hill attempted to comply by opening the door, an officer reached in and violently pulled him out of the vehicle by his arm and head, forcing him face-first onto the ground. The officers then handcuffed Hill and placed a knee on his back, all while Hill was yelling into his cellphone, seemingly calling for help.
The video also shows two of Hill’s Miami Dolphins teammates, Calais Campbell and Jonnu Smith, being involved in the incident. Campbell pulled over to check on Hill and was subsequently handcuffed by officers for “disobeying a direct order” by being too close to the scene. Smith and later receiver Odell Beckham also arrived to support Hill.
In the aftermath of the incident, the Miami-Dade Police Department launched an internal affairs investigation and placed one of the officers involved on administrative duties pending the outcome. The department’s director, Stephanie Davis, stated that releasing the footage was part of the department’s commitment to transparency and maintaining public trust.
The Dolphins issued a statement expressing sadness over the conduct shown towards Hill, Campbell, and Smith, and urged “strong action against the officers” involved. “We are saddened by the overly aggressive and violent conduct directed towards Tyreek Hill, Calais Campbell, and Jonnu Smith by police officers before yesterday’s game,” the statement read. “It is both maddening and heartbreaking to watch the very people we trust to protect our community use such unnecessary force and hostility towards these players.”
The release of the body camera footage has sparked widespread outrage and calls for justice. Many have pointed out that Hill, who is Black, was subjected to excessive force during the traffic stop, raising concerns about racial profiling and police brutality.
Hill himself spoke out about the incident, telling CNN that he feared for his life and hoped to turn the negative experience into a positive one. “I don’t know what would have happened if I wasn’t Tyreek Hill,” he said. “It’s something that I’ll never forget, but I want to use it for the better.”
The NFL and the Players Association have also released statements condemning the officers’ actions and expressing support for Hill. League officials have promised to closely monitor the investigation and take appropriate action if necessary.