NEWYou can now listen to PK Press Club articles!
Tua Tagovailoa’s frustrations with the Miami Dolphins’ performance through six weeks of the 2025 NFL season appeared to boil over after a 29-27 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers.
Tagovailoa said he was “shocked” by the latest losses and was asked how the team would avoid trying to adopt a “woe is me” attitude in future games. He suggested that other team members start doing their part and doing the little things.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON PK Press Club
Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa speaks during a news conference after the Los Angeles Chargers defeated the Dolphins 29-27 in an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025, in Miami Gardens, Florida. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
“Well, I think it starts with leadership helping to articulate that for the guys and then what we expect from the guys,” he said. “We expect this. Are we getting this? Are we not getting this?
“We have guys showing up late to players-only meetings. Guys not showing up to players-only meetings. There’s a lot of things that come into play. Should we make this mandatory? Should we not make this mandatory? So there’s a lot of things of that nature that we need to clean up. It starts with the little things like that.”
Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel was asked about Tagovailoa’s revelation.
Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa watches from the sidelines during the first half of an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Chargers, Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025, in Miami Gardens, Florida. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
NFL WEEK 6 SCORES: BAKER MAYFIELD GIVES BUCS VICTORY, JAXSON DART GETS GIANTS IN WINNERS COLUMN
“The player-led meetings are extra things outside of what I require,” McDaniel said. “We’ve been very accountable to me. It seems like he had something in mind regarding specific meetings with a few people that he was trying to correct by being direct in communication. I think that’s the only way to lead.
“As far as where we are as a program, I think we’ve opened up the discussion on all of this and it’s very clear how we hold people accountable and what’s non-negotiable with all of these things. Obviously he’s sending a message, but from my perspective, everything I’ve asked of the guys, they’ve delivered and so I’m sure that no matter who he’s talking to, they’ll do it as well as he’s a direct communicator with his teammates.”
Tagovailoa finished 21 of 32 with 205 passing yards, a touchdown pass to Darren Waller and three interceptions.
Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa throws a pass during the first half of an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Chargers, Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025, in Miami Gardens, Florida. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
Waller’s score put the Dolphins up 27-26 before the Chargers got a big kick return and were able to make the plays to set up Cameron Dicker for the eventual game-winning field goal.
