The Justin Herbert, Tua Tagovailoa comparisons to be revived again Sunday
Tua Tagovailoa and Justin Herbert will forever be linked.
Not only were the quarterbacks taken fifth and sixth, respectively, in the 2020 NFL Draft, the two received multi-million dollar extensions roughly one year apart. The comparisons don’t stop there: both have one Pro Bowl appearance, ninth-place finishes in AP MVP voting and nearly identical career touchdown percentages.
Tagovailoa, however, doesn’t like to think about said comparisons.
“No,” the franchise quarterback responded when asked about it in 2023. “Justin is a totally different player than me. Justin can throw the deep ball as far as anyone in this league. There are things that Justin does that I look at and go, ‘Oh my gosh.’ Sometimes you can’t help but fan over those plays. But we’re just different in our styles and who we are as football players.”
Regardless of the fact that quarterbacks will never be on the field at the same time, it’s impossible to look at the upcoming matchup between the Miami Dolphins and Los Angeles Chargers without the names Herbert and Tagovailoa. Their respective success — or lack thereof — are intertwined with the hopes and dreams of fans not just because of the draft itself but due to the alternate reality where Herbert ends up in the aqua and orange. The quarterback, after all, is arguably the most important position in all of sports and the Dolphins, specifically, have waited since Dan Marino to find their guy.
Throw in the external pressures of Sunday’s must-win game status — on the other sideline will be a Stephen Ross favorite in coach Jim Harbaugh — and the microscope on the Tagovailoa-Herbert matchup gets even tighter.
“If you’re uncomfortable with the stakes of the game, it’s not a game for you,” coach Mike McDaniel said, explaining that’s why he focuses on the “micro instances” of Tagovailoa’s growth. “You’re not going to change the stakes and he knows that, and I think that’s why I put such a priority on focusing on what he’s working on, being able to get better at things. While that is also always true, bottom line, black and white, you’re held accountable for the results while you’re trying to get better. That’s difficult.”
Added McDaniel: “I think he’s as experienced as anyone with positive or negative noise, and I think in that, you find the best version of yourself when you’re able to allow your own thoughts and decisions to dictate your opinion of yourself and how you’re carried towards others and how you handle all those things.”
The benefits of Herbert are obvious.
“His ability to extend plays and while doing that, make a defense cover the entire field,” McDaniel said. “He can put the ball across the field 50 yards on the other hash, so when he’s using his athletic ability, he stresses your plaster and your connectivity to eligibles down the field. That threat of arm and legs, I think he’s a competitor, I think he keeps getting better, and he’s someone that the opposing team is in charge of minimizing his production.”
That said, Tagovailoa owns a 2-1 record over Herbert. And though Herbert has the edge in nearly every statistical category during their head-to-head matchups, he trails Tagovailoa in touchdown passes. The wins are what obviously matters to the former Alabama standout.
“I can’t go and look at what the other quarterbacks are doing and focus on what I need to do for that week to get the job done in order to help our team win,” Tagovailoa said.
After a hot start to the year, the Chargers have two straight losses, with Herbert tossing three interceptions along the way. The Dolphins, meanwhile, have started 1-4, though Tagovailoa has played better in the last two games as he has thrown five touchdown passes and not committed a turnover. Both teams need a win now, and it will ultimately be on both quarterback’s shoulders to deliver.
“We got to start now if we want to make a run and start making moves,” Tagovailoa said.
This story was originally published October 8, 2025 at 4:39 PM.
