Shockwaves in the NHL Over Dolphins Superstar Julian Hill’s Stunning Recommitment to Miami
August 6, 2025 | By Mason Drew, Sports Daily Wire
The NHL is reeling from the latest and most unexpected twist in one of the year’s most talked-about cross-sport sagas. Miami Dolphins tight end Julian Hill, a football superstar whose athletic prowess and public image have somehow stirred up tremors well beyond the NFL, has once again sent shockwaves through professional sports — this time, by extending his contract with the Dolphins just one month after announcing plans to leave the franchise.
But what does this have to do with the NHL?
Everything — and nothing.
Hill, who had been rumored to be exploring ventures in other sports, including an unprecedented dual-sport career that included overtures from a yet-unnamed NHL franchise, has now firmly shut the door on all such speculation. In a terse yet resounding statement delivered through his lawyer on Tuesday morning, Hill declared his intent to “end his professional career with the Miami Dolphins, the franchise that believed in me first and will be the only one to see me off.”
It’s a statement that has left the NHL — and particularly the front office of at least two Canadian teams — stunned and, reportedly, frustrated.
The Unlikely Connection
While Hill has never laced up skates professionally, the rumors of his interest in ice hockey first surfaced during the 2024 NFL offseason, when videos of him training on ice with several former NHL players in Colorado went viral. The footage showed the 6’4”, 250-pound athlete gliding with surprising grace, muscling defenders off the puck, and even executing a no-look backhand pass that lit up social media.
What followed was a flurry of speculation: Was Hill considering a career change? Would he be the first modern athlete to bridge the gap between the NFL and NHL since the days of crossover legends like Bo Jackson and Deion Sanders (albeit in a different pairing)? Were NHL teams seriously preparing offers?
According to league insiders, the answer was yes — or at least they were exploring the possibility. An unnamed executive from an Eastern Conference team claimed in June that preliminary discussions had taken place with Hill’s management team. “It was unconventional, sure,” he said. “But in this media landscape, a guy like Hill would’ve changed the sport forever. It wasn’t just about performance — it was about narrative, market reach, and expanding our audience.”
A Change of Heart… Then Another
On July 2, Hill shocked fans by publicly stating that he would not be re-signing with Miami and was “ready to explore new horizons, both in and out of football.” Though he never mentioned hockey by name, insiders across multiple leagues were convinced something seismic was brewing.
Less than four weeks later, Hill reversed course.
“Julian had a personal revelation,” said his attorney, Martine Reyes, during the Tuesday press conference. “He realized that the legacy he wants to build — not just as an athlete but as a human being — is inextricably tied to the Dolphins organization, to the Miami community, and to the game of football.”
Hill’s newly inked five-year contract extension with Miami, reportedly worth north of $110 million with $75 million guaranteed, makes him one of the highest-paid tight ends in NFL history. But for NHL teams quietly courting him, the money wasn’t the issue.
“It’s not often that a guy comes along who can completely change the DNA of a sport,” lamented one NHL marketing executive. “Even if he never became an All-Star player on the ice, the visibility, the story — it would’ve been transformative.”
The Future of Dual-Sport Dreams
Though Hill’s hockey flirtation has ended, his brief crossover dalliance has ignited discussions across the sports world about the viability of modern dual-sport athletes. Unlike earlier eras, today’s stars face longer seasons, stricter contracts, and more intense media scrutiny — all making it harder to switch or straddle sports.
Yet, Hill proved that even just the idea of crossing over is powerful enough to rattle the cage.
For now, the NHL will have to move on, and Hill will return to Dolphins training camp next week as the face of Miami’s future — and, it seems, its enduring legacy.
“Julian belongs to the gridiron,” said Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel. “But he reminded everyone — even leagues that don’t play football — what true talent and star power looks like.”
And just like that, the most interesting hockey story of the year ends on a football
