The Miami Dolphins’ newly-acquired wide receiver Tyreek Hill only needed a few words to explain why he ultimately chose a life in the Sunshine State over a contract with the New York Jets — a trade he said was “very close to happening” at one point.
The reason was simple, he explained during a recent press conference discussing the deal: “Those state taxes, man.” Video of Hill’s explanation was shared via Twitter on Monday by Paul Andrew Esden Jr.
#Dolphins WR Tyreek Hill (@cheetah) said a trade to the #Jets ‘was very close to happening’ this offseason ‘but it was those state taxes man’ 🤣 you gotta respect the honesty 🤷🏽♂️ 🎥 @MiamiDolphins #FinsUp #TakeFlight #MIAvsNYJ pic.twitter.com/jDHg8M0wyz
— Paul Andrew Esden Jr (@BoyGreen25) October 3, 2022
“The Jets were the other team that was vying to trade for you,” one reporter noted. “How close was that to happening?”
“You know what? It was very close to happening, man,” Hill replied. “But just, just, those state taxes, man. I realized I had to make a grown-up decision and now here I am in the great city of Miami. You know, great weather, great people, beautiful people I feel like, so, here I am.”
Hill previously played for the Kansas City Chiefs, where he could have chosen to reside in either Kansas or Missouri. In Kansas, the state income taxes are calculated on a progressive scale that depends on income and ranges from 3.10% to 5.70%. In Missouri, the income tax rate is also on a progressive scale that hinges on income — and in that state, the rate ranges from 0% to 5.40%.
In New York, however, where Hill would have moved in order to play for the Jets, the progressive tax rates range from 4.00% to 10.90%. Hill — who is the highest-paid wide receiver in the NFL going into the 2022 season — is expected to earn some $30 million in his first season with the Dolphins, including bonuses. If New York had offered him a similar contract, that could have resulted in him owing something in the neighborhood of $3 million in state income taxes alone.
The wide receiver opted instead to move to Florida, where there are no state income taxes at all.
Hill’s trade was announced in March at the start of the off season, and as ESPN reported, the Kansas City Chiefs got five draft picks — three in 2022 and two in 2023 — in exchange for the star wide receiver.
Breaking: The Chiefs are trading Tyreek Hill to the Dolphins for five draft picks, sources told @AdamSchefter.
2022 1st-round (No. 29)
2022 2nd-round pick (No. 50)
2022 4th-round pick
2023 4th and 6th-round picks pic.twitter.com/3tRmHzLdVj— ESPN (@espn) March 23, 2022