For any receiver, losing the ball in the end zone means their scoring catch was incomplete. In 2020, during Week 13, that's what Tyreek Hill thought as well, but he was wrong. And according to a former Kansas City Chiefs safety, the head coach didn't like that.

Recently on the ‘In The Bayou’ podcast, Tyrann Mathieu, a 3-time Pro Bowler, shared how Andy Reid didn't see the funny side to that story, as it could have cost Kansas the game.

“We thought he [Tyreek Hill] came down with the ball. He got up and told the ref, he didn’t catch it," Mathieu stated. "Coach Reid on the sideline hesitated to throw the flag cause Tyreek thought he dropped the ball the whole time the ball’s in his hands, and I’m saying to myself, “we could’ve lost the game.” I remember Coach Reid being pissed."

On December 6, 2020, the Kansas City Chiefs won against the Denver Broncos (22-16). But the Chiefs could’ve earned another miraculous touchdown if it wasn’t for a small slip-up on Tyreek Hill’s side.

At the height of their dominant 2020 run, the Chiefs were barely putting a foot wrong, entering Week 13 with just one loss all season. But in a tight 3–3 game against the Denver Broncos, the bizarre moment nearly changed that script.

After Patrick Mahomes threw the ball over 80 yards to 8-time Pro Bowler, Tyreek Hill, he lost control of the pass as the Broncos’ Cornerback AJ Bouye tackled him to the ground. But the ball never touched the ground. It landed on his left arm, and he clutched it.

After Hill told the ref that the pass was incomplete, head coach Andy Reid chose not to challenge, letting a potential score slip away. In a season that ended 15–2, one moment could have changed everything.

The officials ruled the play an incompletion, but after the Chiefs punted, the Stadium showed the slow-motion replay of the catch. That moment frustrated Reid and many fans, as it could’ve been a touchdown if challenged. 

"I'll take the blame for that one," Reid said after the game. "I've never had a receiver that didn't know he caught the ball. He came off and said he didn't catch it.”

That year, the Chiefs eventually lost Super Bowl LV to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. As Andy Reid tries to build an elite squad once again for 2026, rumors of Tyreek Hill's reunion with Kansas have erupted.

Will Tyreek Hill Return to the Kansas City Chiefs?

Since Tyreek Hill's departure, the Kansas City Chiefs haven't looked the same, failing to reach the playoffs after about a decade. But 2026 could see a reunion, if other NFL teams don't swoop in.

With Patrick Mahomes also working his way back and Travis Kelce returning, there's a lot to be excited about for Hill's return to Kansas, especially with Eric Bieniemy back. Unfortunately for Chiefs fans, many NFL teams need a WR, such as the Buffalo Bills.

With Khalil Shakir yet to register a 900-yard NFL season, Hill would give Buffalo something it has long lacked: a vertical threat. But there's one more suitor in the mix.

The Los Angeles Chargers offer something different. With Hill's former HC Mike McDaniel now shaping the offense and Justin Herbert under center, Hill would walk into a system designed to maximize exactly what he does best.

For now, all eyes remain firmly on how well Tyreek Hill recovers from his ACL injury. On the wrong side of 30, the receiver could come with his fair share of risks, too.

Read more at the Kansas City Chiefs Community!

Written by

Monika Khatai

Edited by

Aadesh Dhote