Former Steelers Player Hit Tyreek Hill So Hard That It Absolutely Changed His View Of Football: “He Got CTE”

The Pittsburgh Steelers have not won a playoff game since the 2016 NFL season, but hopes are high that this drought will end in 2024. The last time the Steelers won in the playoffs, they faced the Kansas City Chiefs in a pre-Patrick Mahomes era, securing an 18-16 victory on the road.

In that game, a former Steelers player delivered a memorable hit on Tyreek Hill during his rookie season, a moment Hill has never forgotten. Hill recently recounted this hit and how it changed his approach to the game in the NFL during an appearance on former Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown's CTESPN podcast.

“Man, I tell this story. We were playing you all in the playoffs my rookie year bruh. Motherfu***** Vince Williams. Bruh, I feel like he got CTE bruh, he hit me so hard. I ran to y’all sideline first and they was like, ‘Nah, you gotta go this way.’ This dude hit me so hard, I was seeing stars. I have never been hit so hard before.”

Hill explained that before that hit, he relished the challenge of trying to run through anyone in his path. However, the hit delivered by Vince Williams was a game-changer for him. It fundamentally altered his approach to facing linebackers.

Before encountering Williams, Hill would fearlessly attempt to bulldoze his way through even the most formidable opponents. After that memorable hit, he decided to adapt his strategy. Now, Hill deliberately avoids direct confrontations with linebackers, focusing instead on outmaneuvering them. He still attacks defensive backs with his characteristic intensity, but he purposefully steers clear of linebackers, a direct result of the lesson he learned from Williams.

The hit occurred during an attempted kickoff return by Hill in the first quarter. With just under four minutes to go, Hill fielded the kickoff, only to be blindsided by Williams, who came flying in from out of nowhere to deliver a crushing blow. At that point, the Chiefs were leading 7-6. This hit was a turning point for Hill, fundamentally changing his approach to the game of football as he sought to avoid experiencing such a jarring impact again.

Since then, the Chiefs have started their own dynasty, establishing themselves as perennial contenders in the NFL. Meanwhile, Hill left Kansas City to join the Miami Dolphins, a move that significantly altered the dynamics of both teams. 

Steelers' Antonio Brown Compares Tyreek Hill Leaving Kansas City To His Exit In Pittsburgh

During the podcast, Brown drew a parallel between Hill's departure from the Chiefs and his own exit from the Steelers. Although the circumstances were different—Brown's departure was marred by controversy and sour terms—there are some notable similarities. Both players were pivotal to their teams' successes and their exits left significant voids.

Brown highlighted how leaving a team where one has made a substantial impact can be a challenging transition, both personally and professionally. For Hill, moving to the Dolphins was a fresh start, an opportunity to bring his game-changing abilities to a new environment. Brown's move, though contentious, also represented a new chapter in his career.

The comparison underscores the complexities and emotional weight of such decisions for high-profile players. Both Hill and Brown had to navigate new team dynamics, fan expectations, and personal adjustments. Their experiences reflect broader themes in professional sports, where player movements can reshape team fortunes and redefine individual legacies.

For Brown, his career in Pittsburgh was never replicated elsewhere. However, he did go on to win a Super Bowl with Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers before his infamous exit, where he took off his jersey, waved to the crowd, and left the game, effectively ending his NFL career. Meanwhile, Hill has continued to solidify his reputation as one of the most dangerous wide receivers in the NFL. 

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