NFL opens investigation into Tyreek Hill after domestic abuse allegations

The NFL has opened an investigation into allegations that Miami Dolphins receiver Tyreek Hill abused his estranged wife on multiple occasions, including an allegation that he spat at her while she was pregnant, league and media reports said Thursday.

The probe began after divorce filings and related documents obtained by media outlets detailed a series of alleged incidents. Keeta Vaccaro filed for divorce from Hill on April 7 — one day after police responded to a report of an "assault in progress" at the couple's home, according to the filings and reporting. Hill was not arrested following that police response.

The documents, first reported by TMZ and summarized in other outlets, accuse Hill of abusing Vaccaro on eight separate occasions. The allegations include an incident in a guest house in Southwest Ranches, Florida, during a discussion about a postnuptial agreement in which Vaccaro says Hill shoved her to the floor, stood over her and ripped off her necklace, causing a cut and a bruise. Additional allegations described in the filings included an episode in Orlando in which Hill allegedly threw Vaccaro to the floor, pulled her hair and twisted her intimate body parts, and an incident in February 2024 when he allegedly shoved a marijuana cigarette in her face and ordered her to leave the house as the couple prepared to depart for the Pro Bowl.

Vaccaro's filing also says she was pregnant with the couple's daughter, Capri, during at least one of the alleged incidents. The filings are part of an ongoing divorce case that remains in litigation.

Through a spokesperson, Hill has denied the allegations and called them a "smear campaign." Hill's attorney told TMZ that the claims were part of an effort by Vaccaro and her counsel to force a settlement and said Hill "will not be moved by this and awaits his day in court to present his evidence." Vaccaro’s attorney, Evan Marks, told the Daily Mail that his client "has sworn that the allegations contained therein are true and correct" and that evidence will be presented to a jury.

The NFL confirmed it had opened a review of the matter, saying it was acting under its standard procedures for allegations of this type. The league did not disclose a timeline for the investigation or whether discipline might follow. It was not immediately clear whether the review would affect Hill’s availability for upcoming games, including Miami’s matchup with the New England Patriots this weekend.

Hill, a veteran wide receiver and one of the Dolphins’ most prominent players, married Vaccaro in November 2023. The allegations in the divorce filings say the alleged abuse began in January 2024. The couple officially separated in April.

The Dolphins organization and Hill’s legal representatives were contacted for comment by media outlets reporting the allegations. The team has not issued a public statement beyond acknowledging awareness of the situation through the league review.

The NFL has in recent years conducted investigations into off-field behavior by players and sometimes imposed discipline under its personal-conduct policy. Such probes typically assess the available evidence, interview witnesses and coordinate with local law enforcement when appropriate. In this instance, the league’s statement described the review as a standard response to serious allegations and gave no further detail.

The divorce case and related filings are pending in civil court, where both sides can present evidence and testimony. Criminal authorities have not announced charges related to the incidents described in the filings, and the assertions remain allegations that Hill has disputed.