Tyreek Hill's NFL Return Threatened by Domestic Abuse Allegations in Divorce Trial

Tyreek Hill's potential return to the NFL is facing uncertainty as domestic violence allegations surfaced during the opening of his divorce trial. Hill, a free agent, was reportedly nearing a deal with a team, with his agent suggesting a signing was imminent.

However, testimony from his estranged wife, Lakeeta Vaccaro, on Tuesday detailed multiple alleged incidents of domestic abuse during their 18-month marriage. Vaccaro's suit complaint outlines eight instances of abuse, which the NFL is expected to consider under its Personal Conduct Policy.

Vaccaro, the sister of former NFL safety Kenny Vaccaro, testified that Hill became upset during a trip to the ESPN campus in July 2024. Later, at their hotel, she alleged Hill attempted to punch her stomach while she was pregnant, striking her hands as she blocked the blow. Vaccaro also testified that Hill expressed he did not want the child.

She described their marriage as alternating between periods of peace and conflict, alleging Hill once threw her out of their house, pushed her into a car door, grabbed and hurt her breasts, and left her on the side of a road after an argument. In one 2024 incident, she reported Hill flicked or smashed a cigar into her face, though police made no arrest. In April 2025, police responded to their condo after her mother alleged Hill threw a laptop and held the couple's baby near a balcony railing, a claim disputed by the couple, though video showed Hill holding the child on the railing.

Hill's legal counsel has attempted to highlight discrepancies between Vaccaro's deposition and her current testimony, arguing that no physical evidence of abuse exists. They contend that while the allegations are serious, they should not be accepted without proof.

Hill has a history of alleged or proven abuse accusations:

• In December 2014, while at Oklahoma State, Hill was arrested after his pregnant girlfriend, Crystal Espinal, accused him of assault and battery by strangulation. He pleaded guilty in 2015 and received probation. The case was later dismissed and expunged in 2018.
• In 2019, Hill and Espinal were investigated after an audio recording surfaced discussing their son’s broken arm. Prosecutors did not file charges, and the NFL also investigated without suspending Hill.
• In 2023, British influencer Sophie Hall sued Hill alleging he fractured her leg during a football drill. Hill and Hall settled the suit in May 2026.

The NFL has not provided a timeline for its review of the allegations against Hill. The trial is scheduled to continue.