The Miami Dolphins are closing the chapter on Tua Tagovailoa’s polarizing tenure as the franchise quarterback in Miami Gardens.
New Miami general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan formally announced on Monday, March 9 that the franchise intends to release Tagovailoa, 28, on June 1 at the start of the new league year.
It is a franchise-altering decision. Former Dolphins general manager Chris Grier signed Tagovailoa to a 4-year, $212 million contract extension in July 2024. The 28-year-old quarterback has three years left on that contract. The dead cap hit of $99.2 million will be an NFL record.
The two-year swing from a $200 million-dollar contract to a record-breaking release is in many ways a fitting end to Tagovailoa’s time with the Dolphins, which was full of highs and lows.
Tagovailoa was largely seen as a model professional athlete as Miami’s franchise quarterback, mostly avoiding off-field controversy while emphasizing philanthropy, his religion and family life as a husband and father. He’ll close his tenure in Miami as the Dolphins’ all-time leader in passer rating and completion percentage.
Nonetheless, Tagovailoa was at the center of numerous on-field controversies in his time with the Dolphins, some of which ballooned into broader questions facing the NFL. Tagovailoa’s repeated concussions, and their effect on his mental health and playing ability, were intensely scrutinized.
Here are five lowlights from Tagovailoa’s tenure with the Miami Dolphins:
Tua Tagovailoa vs. Brian Flores
The Dolphins made Tagovailoa a top-five pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, though that selection ultimately revealed layers of organization dysfunction between owner Stephen Ross, former general manager Chris Grier and former head coach Brian Flores.
Simply put, Flores and Tagovailoa did not get along, as the Dolphins’ franchise quarterback revealed in a 2024 appearance on the Dan Le Batard Show.
In the interview, Tagovailoa said Flores was “a terrible person” and had told him that he sucked, all but confirming speculation about the disconnect occurring at all levels of the franchise at the time.
Flores was fired in January 2022 and his successor, Mike McDaniel, was a strident believer in Tagovailoa’s ability to be the Dolphins’ franchise quarterback.
Tua Tagovailoa concussion vs. Cincinnati Bengals
In a September 2022 game against the Bengals in Cincinnati, Tagovailoa suffered a frightening head injury that kicked off a winding concussion saga which ultimately defined his Dolphins tenure.
Tagovailoa, who had cleared concussion protocols and was listed with a back injury the week prior against the Buffalo Bills, was slammed to the ground by Bengals defensive tackle Josh Tupou at midfield. He writhed in pain after the hit and his fingers contorted awkwardly in a fencing position on a national “Thursday Night Football” broadcast.
While he only missed the next two games, the injury became a national story as medical experts and football fans scrutinized the NFL’s concussion protocols and the risks
Ultimately, it was not Tagovailoa’s last concussion of the 2022 season, either. He suffered another in the regular season finale against the Green Bay Packers and watched from the sidelines as the Dolphins lost to the Bills in the first round of the playoffs.
Tua Tagovailoa concussion vs. Buffalo Bills
Tagovailoa signed a 4-year, $212 million contract extension after his record-breaking 2023 campaign, which saw the Dolphins QB lead the NFL in passing.
Injury concerns, which had largely been muted in two years since his frightening concussion in Cincinnati, returned to the forefront late in a blowout loss to the Buffalo Bills in Hard Rock Stadium.
Tagovailoa, with the Dolphins trailing 31-10 in the fourth quarter, launched himself into a Bills defender to convert a fourth down. He crumpled with the hit and his fingers curled into a fencing position, synonymous with a concussion.
The concussion brought Tagovailoa’s injury history back to the forefront of national discourse as medical experts and fans questioned whether he should continue his football career.
As Tagovailoa relentlessly pushed forward to play, the repeated concussions also raised questions over his willingness to protect himself and how the Dolphins’ playcalling had to adapt due to his susceptibility to injury.
Tua Tagovailoa benching vs. Cleveland Browns
The decline of Tagovailoa arguably hit its lowest point in October 2025.
Tagovailoa was benched after throwing his third interception in the second half of the Dolphins’ 31-6 loss to the Browns. He threw a pick-six on the first play after halftime and was later intercepted in his own territory on back-to-back offensive drives. He also fumbled three times in the blowout loss to a one-win foe.
It was illustrative of Tagovailoa’s worst performances with the Dolphins. His lack of mobility, inability to take hits and the floating appearance of his intercepted passes contributed to a perception that Tagovailoa no longer had the physical traits required of a franchise quarterback.
Tagovailoa press conference gaffes
Bizarre press conferences were an unexpected development late in Tagovailoa’s final season as Dolphins quarterback.
The most prominent of the press conferences saw Tagovailoa publicly criticize teammates in the wake of a 29-27 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers in Hard Rock Stadium. He mentioned that teammates had been late to meetings and criticized team leadership, which many pointed out included Tagovailoa.
Tagovailoa’s later press conference gaffes included the geographically-challenged answer of “Jerusalem” when asked where in Europe he would like to see the Dolphins play next.
Eric J. Wallace is deputy sports editor for The Palm Beach Post. He can be reached at ejwallace@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: 5 lowlights from Tua Tagovailoa’s Miami Dolphins tenure
Reporting by Eric J. Wallace, Palm Beach Post / Palm Beach Post
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
