Dolphins’ Tua Tagovailoa likely done in Miami, McDaniel likely staying: report
Tua Tagovailoa is not expected to start again for the Miami Dolphins, according to the NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
This comes just days after coach Mike McDaniel benched the former franchise quarterback in favor of rookie Quinn Ewers.
“It is the expectation that Tua has played his final down with the Miami Dolphins,” Rapoport said Sunday.
In addition to Tagovailoa’s likely exit, Rapoport also reported that McDaniel will return as coach.
“This is someone who does have the support of owner Stephen Ross,” Rapoport said, explaining that Ross “extended” McDaniel in August 2024. “The two are close. The Dolphins organization does want McDaniel to succeed and believes he can do it.”
When McDaniel made the decision to start Ewers, he did so by emphasizing that the former Texas standout has the necessary tools to better operate his offense.
“The simple piece is I think Quinn gives this team the best chance to win,” McDaniel said Wednesday. “Our focus is obviously to win the next three games but in particular, like I tell the players, we are focused on beating the Bengals so that was the motivation.”
What makes Tagovailoa’s situation so difficult is his contract. If they cut him, the Dolphins would have to eat $99 million in dead cap money over the next two years. They could also try to trade him and eat some of that money, which Rapoport reported was the Dolphins’ “preferred option.” Last but not least, the Dolphins could keep him as the league’s most expensive back-up quarterback.
This story was originally published December 21, 2025 at 2:16 PM.
