Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill was revealed on Friday as the No. 1 player in NFL Network’s annual Top 100 rankings.
What should have been a moment of pride for the All-Pro instead ignited a wave of criticism from fans and pundits alike.
Hill’s top spot placed him ahead of notable players such as Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson and San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey, who finished second and third respectively.
The most contentious placement, however, was Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who dropped to fourth despite finishing first in two of the last three seasons.
The rankings are determined by votes from NFL players in an offseason poll conducted by NFL Network.
Upon learning of his No. 1 ranking, Hill anticipated the backlash. The Dolphins star took to X, humorously posting, “My comments and DMs [are] about to be on fire now,” accompanied by a laughing emoji.
Hill’s prediction proved accurate. He responded to numerous critics, including both fans and sports personalities, who argued that he didn’t deserve the top ranking.
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One fan even made a personal remark about Hill’s family situation, which added fuel to the fire.
Despite the controversy, Hill’s achievement is historic. He became the first wide receiver to top the NFL Top 100 rankings and just the fourth non-quarterback to do so since the list began in 2011.
Here is the full top 10 of the NFL Network’s annual Top 100 rankings:
- Tyreek Hill – Wide Receiver – Miami Dolphins
- Lamar Jackson – Quarterback – Baltimore Ravens
- Christian McCaffrey – Running Back – San Francisco 49ers
- Patrick Mahomes – Quarterback – Kansas City Chiefs
- Myles Garrett – Defensive End – Cleveland Browns
- Chris Jones – Defensive Lineman – Kansas City Chiefs
- Trent Williams – Left Tackle – San Francisco 49ers
- T.J. Watt – Linebacker – Pittsburgh Steelers
- Travis Kelce – Tight End – Kansas City Chiefs
- Maxx Crosby – Defensive End – Las Vegas Raiders
Social media posts about Hill’s ranking were inundated with comments questioning the decision, suggesting that the outrage stemmed from a perception that Hill had declared himself the best, when in fact it was his peers who voted him into the top spot.
Hill’s performance last season was undeniably impressive. Across 16 games for the Dolphins, he recorded 119 catches (second in the NFL) for 1,799 yards (first) and 13 touchdowns (tied for first). Despite the criticism, these stats underscore why his fellow players might have chosen him as the best in the league.
