Tyreek Hill – January 11, 2024
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Thursday, January 11, 2024
WR Tyreek Hill
(What’s it going to be like going back to the old stomping grounds?) – “Just another game man. I’m looking forward to it. Obviously I’m very excited for it. I’m not looking forward to the cold, but to see old faces again and play inside of Arrowhead is going to be a special moment for myself. It’s going to be awesome.”
(You wanted the game at Arrowhead earlier in the season. Now you get a chance to end their season. What does that mean when you hear that?) – “Like I said, it’s just another game. I’ve been in this league eight years now. I’m going to play it just like any other opponent. I’m excited about the opportunity and they got a great team. That’s all I can say.”
(You have a lot of memories at Arrowhead. Does one stick out to you?) – “My favorite memory from Arrowhead was probably my rookie year when the crowed chanted my name against the Raiders, Thursday Night Football. That was a very special moment for me. Because as a kid, that’s what you grow up visualizing in your head. Man, I’m going to have moments like that. For that to happen to me, it was a very special moment.”
(How’s your family?) – “My wife is good. Mom is good. And my nephews are good. That’s all that matters. That was the main concern of mine, being at practice and hearing about the news. Right now, it’s just a transition for us. But that’s what players do. We find a way to bounce back. That’s what life is, ups and downs. You have things happen and you have to find a way to adjust to adversity. So we just had a slight adversity and we’re going to find a way to face it. And that’s what we’re doing now.”
(What’s your focus with that? With your big game and you have a big family thing, is it hard to focus?) – “Nah. Nah, for real. I feel like there are crazier things in the world going on. The way that I look at it is I’m not the only person in the world having a bad day. There are other people having bad days. God has blessed me with great things and I have a great support system with teammates and family and stuff like that. I just always try to look at the positive side of things. So that’s been my whole approach throughout all of this. Although it sucks to see rooms destroyed and everything that you worked for destroyed – it sucks – but my main thing was health, making sure my kids are alright. And yeah, this gives me and my wife a chance to get closer.”
(Where are you guys staying now?) – “I can’t tell you all that.”
(But you guys are all safe?) – “Yeah, we’re all safe. But I can’t tell you all that. We’re staying at Tua’s house.” (laughter)
(When do you expect to be able to move back into your house?) – “I don’t know man. I don’t know. Whenever that time comes, we’ll move back in. But for now, we’re just going to enjoy our time on the beach.”
(Before you opened up about using IV’s when there’s certain type of weather with cramps and things like that, how do you keep your body, knowing this could be one of the coldest games in NFL history, warm as the game goes on?) – “Well, it’s a mindset. I feel like if you believe it’s going to be cold, then you’re going to freeze your balls off. But if you go into this game not even thinking any of that, you’ll be fine. With me being me, I played there and I understand the conditions. I’m not even worried about it at all. I’m going to go out there with no sleeves and tell the rest of the guys it’s a mindset. If those guys see you wearing sleeves, obviously they’re going to think you’re soft. We’re going to go out there and do our thing.”
(You were named team MVP today, voted on by the media.) – “Oh, y’all voted for me?” (laughter)
(We did.) – “That’s what I’m talking about. Thank y’all.”
(I wanted to get your reaction to that. Also, there’s no one harder on yourself than you. With some of the drops that you’ve had, how have you been working through those?) – “I mean, I’ve been busting my tail, man. Dealing with a lot of stuff as far as injuries and stuff like that. Just trying to get back to the basics. I try to catch JUGS like each and every day after practice. Even though I don’t got to, I try to get back to the things that got me to this point, which is attention to detail, the fundamentals and the techniques that the coaches taught me or even my dad taught me going back to the roots. When you’ve done so much, you’ve got to find new ways, create new ways to entertain yourself because the season is long, the season gets boring. I’ve said this before, you’ve got to find a way to fall in love with the boring things and I feel like I’d kind of gotten away from that and now I’m back to it, refocusing just on catching the ball and stuff like that and I feel like I’ll be alright.”
(What about MVP? What’s your reaction to being named Team MVP?) – “Oh, thanks. (laughter) Thanks, that means a lot.”
(We know you’re a Twitter instigator. What are the text messages like between you and Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes, TE Travis Kelce and the rest of the old teammates this week?) – “Well, I haven’t texted Mahomes since they beat our ass. I texted Kelce but he still hasn’t texted me back. He’s probably still on his Taylor Swift thing. But yeah man, those guys are too famous for me now, I guess. (laughter) Yeah, there hasn’t been any trash talk but obviously when we get there face to face, I’m going to be talking my trash. I’m really looking forward to it.”
(Do you think WR Jaylen Waddle will be good to go Saturday?) – “Of course. Huge playoff game, you’re going against Super Bowl champions, so who wouldn’t be ready for this game? That’s just my opinion. The type of competitor he is, these are the type of games that Jaylen Waddle lives for.”
