Tyreek Hill's NFL return seemed imminent and then his divorce trial began with domestic abuse allegations
Tyreek Hill's estranged wife testified during divorce proceedings he tried to punch her stomach while pregnant, allegations that could delay NFL return.
Multiple reports that surfaced recently linked Tyreek Hill to a Kansas City Chiefs return and one report even quoted his agent as saying he expected the former All-Pro wide receiver to sign with a team in the coming days. That's before Hill's divorce trial began Tuesday.
And testimony from Lakeeta Vaccaro, the player's estranged wife, outlined incidents of domestic abuse. Her suit complaint outlined eight instances of abuse.
The divorce itself is of no interest to the NFL. But the allegations of abuse definitely are and could derail or at least significantly delay Hill's return to the field under the league's Personal Conduct Policy.
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Hill is a free agent but the NFL review of his domestic violence allegations by Vaccaro is ongoing with no timetable for a conclusion, a league source confirmed to OutKick.
Tuesday's accounting of those allegations in open court almost definitely will be taken into account as part of that review that will determine Hill's status to play when healthy.
Vaccaro, who is suing Hill for punitive and compensatory damages, testified during direct examination that in July 2024, she and Hill visited the ESPN campus in Orlando.
Vaccaro said Hill became upset because she did not get professional hair and makeup done for potential interviews there.
Later, at their hotel, Hill remained upset and became so heated he tried to punch her stomach, Vaccaro testified. She said she blocked the blow by putting her hands on her stomach, but the strike did hit her hands.
Vaccaro was pregnant at the time.
Vaccaro added that Hill told her that he didn’t want the baby.
Vaccaro, the sister of former NFL safety Kenny Vaccaro, alleged a history of abuse during her time with Hill. Their 18-month marriage, she testified, was punctuated by periods of relative peace followed by trouble.
"During this whole period, 18-month marriage, it was a consistent two-week on, two-week off situation," Vaccaro testified. "Of course we had our moments when it was, you know, beautiful.
"But then the two weeks of, when it went back to this angry man, it was bad."
Vaccaro said Hill once picked her up physically to throw her out of their house. She said he once pushed her into a car door during an argument. She accused Hill of grabbing and hurting her breasts during multiple arguments.
She accused Hill of once leaving her on the side of a road after an argument in their car.
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Hill’s counsel tried to establish discrepancies between Vaccaro's deposition and her testimony on Tuesday and pressed the point no physical evidence of abuse exists. And Hill's lawyer said that while the allegations are serious, taking them seriously does not mean accepting them merely because they were made.
Hill has a history of alleged or proven abuse against women:
Tuesday’s proceedings wrapped up just after 5 p.m. and neither Hill nor Vaccaro spoke with reporters afterward.
The trial is scheduled to continue on Wednesday.