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The Miami Dolphins’ playoff hopes officially ended with Monday night’s loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The Dolphins ultimately failed to overcome an 0-3 start to the regular season, and now more than a quarter century will have passed since the franchise last celebrated a playoff victory. Shortly after the 28-15 loss to the Steelers, Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel hinted at the possibility of a major quarterback change looming on the horizon.
While McDaniel initially cautioned that he hoped to avoid making a “short-sighted” decision when asked if he would consider benching Tua Tagovailoa, he later admitted that “everything is on the table” amid the quarterback’s uneven season.
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Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel and quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (1) stand on the sideline against the New England Patriots during the second quarter at Hard Rock Stadium on September 14, 2025 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Sam Navarro/Imagn Images)
Tagovailoa finished Monday’s game with 253 passing yards, two touchdowns and an interception. While the NFL passing yards leader’s final numbers in 2023 looked good enough, Tagovailoa had just 65 yards and threw an interception in the first three quarters of the game. He has already thrown a career-high 15 interceptions this season.
Tagovailoa’s two touchdown throws didn’t put on the board until the final quarter of the game.
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McDaniel pointed out Tagovailoa’s slow start. “I think the quarterback play last night wasn’t good enough, so for me, everything is on the table,” he said.
McDaniel also acknowledged the lack of production in Miami’s passing attacks in recent weeks. The embattled fourth-year head coach said the Dolphins’ passing offense “hurt” the team in Monday’s loss.
Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (1) talks with head coach Mike McDaniel during training camp at Baptist Health Training Complex on July 28, 2024, in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Sam Navarro/USA TODAY Sports)
Tagovailoa took responsibility, saying he had to perform at a higher level.
“On the one hand, I have to play better. I have to be better for our guys offensively,” he said Monday. “Secondly, I’m pretty disappointed in the way I prepared our receivers, in terms of operations, in terms of guys knowing where to line up and communication as far as personnel.”
“That’s something I keep telling the guys when we’re in our own player-led meetings,” he continued, “and I felt like I let our guys down on that aspect.”
Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (1) looks to pass during the first half of an NFL football game against the Atlanta Falcons October 26, 2025, in Atlanta. (Mike Stewart/AP Photo)
Although a decision regarding Tagovailoa’s near-term future could come from McDaniel as early as Wednesday, the franchise is financially tied to the veteran signal-caller in the long-term. Tagovailoa agreed to a four-year contract extension worth $212.1 million in 2024.
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Zach Wilson, the No. 2 pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, and rookie Quinn Ewers are the two quarterbacks listed behind Tagovailoa on the Dolphins depth chart.
The Dolphins fell to 6-8 on Monday. The Cincinnati Bengals will travel to South Florida later this week for a Week 16 matchup with the Dolphins.
