Tyreek Hill, known as one of the fastest players in the NFL, expressed frustration over his Madden NFL 26 speed rating, which is listed at 98 instead of the usual maximum 99. Hill made these remarks after recording a 26 mph sprint, calling into question the accuracy of Electronic Arts’ rating system in their latest game.
The Miami Dolphins wide receiver has consistently been rated with a perfect 99 speed in previous Madden titles, a reflection of his ability to outrun defenders and score long touchdowns. However, Madden NFL 26 has broken this trend by assigning him a speed rating just below perfect. This discrepancy prompted Hill to share a video on X/Twitter showcasing his sprint speed along with the caption: “98 where? (sleeping emoji) lol
Adding to the uniqueness of Madden NFL 26’s ratings, only one player carries a 99 speed score: Xavier Worthy of the Kansas City Chiefs. Worthy, a young talent, set a record with the fastest 40-yard dash time ever recorded at the NFL Scouting Combine in 2024, clocking in at 4.21 seconds.
Reactions to Tyreek Hill’s Statements on Miami’s Backfield
Beyond his Madden comments, Tyreek Hill recently stirred conversation by criticizing Miami’s running back group, specifically targeting De’Von Achane for his performance in third-down and short-yardage situations. Hill bluntly suggested that Achane should be benched in those plays, praising other backs like Jaylen Wright and Ollie Gordon for those roles:
“He’s not a power back. I be telling him that in the locker room but he swear he a power back. I love De’Von though, but if I’m being honest, that’s why you got Jaylen Wright, that’s why you got Ollie Gordon, for those kinds of situations.”
—Tyreek Hill, Miami Dolphins wide receiver
Achane responded to the comments, and insider John Frascella described the situation as evidence of dysfunction within the Dolphins’ roster. The criticism even drew a strong response from former NFL cornerback Asante Samuel, who spoke on his Say What Needs To Be Said podcast about Hill’s remarks and the team’s internal dynamics:
“Lord have mercy. That’s the first problem I would have had. If I was the running back, whoever he called out, I would be the first person to confront Tyreek Hill. ‘Man, why you saying I can’t do X-Y-Z, bro. Don’t say what I can and cannot do, bro. That’s up to me and the Good Lord to decide.’”
—Asante Samuel, former NFL cornerback
Samuel also criticized Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel for publicly reinforcing Hill’s comments, arguing it shows weak leadership:
“Their head coach doesn’t come off as the Alpha male in the room at all. He doesn’t come off as the Alpha male. McDaniel isn’t making anything better by addressing Tyreek Hill publicly.”
—Asante Samuel, former NFL cornerback
Upcoming Miami Dolphins Season Outlook
The Miami Dolphins are set to kick off their 2025 season on September 7, facing the Indianapolis Colts at 1 pm ET on CBS. With internal tensions between key players and coaching leadership under scrutiny, the team will look to find cohesion early in the season. Tyreek Hill’s Madden 26 rating controversy adds another layer of attention on the wide receiver as fans and analysts alike monitor his performance on and off the field.
Whether this debate over Hill’s speed rating in Madden NFL 26 will affect his image or the game’s reception remains to be seen, but it highlights the challenges in accurately translating real-life athleticism into digital performance metrics. Meanwhile, the Dolphins’ roster dynamics and leadership will likely play a crucial role in their success this year.