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The writing may be a little smudged, but it’s on the wall – Tua Tagovailoa’s time with the Miami Dolphins could be coming to an end after being benched for the remainder of the 2025 season.
Head coach Mike McDaniel announced that seventh-round pick Quinn Ewers of Texas will be the team’s starter for the remaining three games on the schedule, and Tagovailoa will move to third with Zach Wilson, his backup all season, remaining in his role.
Tagovailoa spoke about the demotion following the team’s loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 15, which could very well be his last in a Dolphins uniform.
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Tua Tagovailoa (1) of the Miami Dolphins leaves the field after a failed two-point conversion attempt in the second half of an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, December 15, 2025. (Justin Berl/AP Photo)
“Naturally, I would say I’m disappointed,” Tagovailoa said. “It’s a normal human emotion. Other than that, I have to do my part, my role here right now is to help the quarterback of this team, to lead this team, to help him in any way I can to help the team win this game on Sunday.”
It’s been a tough task for Tagovailoa in his sixth season with the Dolphins. He leads the NFL with 15 interceptions, while throwing for 20 touchdowns and 2,660 yards in 14 games. The Dolphins went 6-8 in his starts this year.
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Tagovailoa managed to muster 253 passing yards with two touchdowns in the 28-15 loss to Pittsburgh, but he only managed 65 passing yards in three quarters with one interception before a fourth quarter where Pittsburgh seemed to let off the gas defensively.
McDaniel noted after the game that his quarterback’s play “wasn’t good enough.”
Tua Tagovailoa of the Miami Dolphins looks on before the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Acrisure Stadium on December 15, 2025 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
“Disappointed, I’m not happy about it,” Tagovailoa said of his performance. “But something out of my control. I would say the most important thing, and to be honest with myself too, was my performance. I didn’t live up to the level and abilities that I had in the past.”
It was just two years ago that Tagovailoa led the NFL in passing yards (4,624) while throwing 29 touchdowns during an 11-6 season for Miami. This ultimately led the franchise to extend him for four years on a contract worth $212.4 million, with $167 million guaranteed.
But more concussion issues have arisen in 2024, although Tagovailoa has led the league in completion percentage (72.9) through his 11 games. The Dolphins went 6-5 during that span, but failed to reach the playoffs.
Tua Tagovailoa of the Miami Dolphins looks to pass during the first quarter of the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Acrisure Stadium on December 15, 2025 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Joe Sargent/Getty Images)
If the Dolphins released Tagovaviloa and started from scratch at quarterback this offseason, it would cost them $99.2 million in dead space, although they could split it over two years.
Meanwhile, Ewers’ first NFL start will be Sunday against Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals at Miami Gardens.
