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Tua Tagovailoa appears ready to leave the Miami Dolphins, a feeling that appears mutual between the two parties.
Tagovailoa was benched for the final three games of the season due to his poor performance. A day after the Dolphins’ season ended with a 38-10 loss to division rival New England, the sixth-year signal caller seemed open to the idea of a “new beginning.”
Mike McDaniel talks with Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (1) in the fourth quarter of a game against the Buffalo Bills at Hard Rock Stadium on September 25, 2022, in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Megan Briggs/Getty Images)
“That would be great. I would love that,” Tagovailoa said Monday, according to The Palm Beach Post, when asked specifically if he was “looking forward to a new beginning.”
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When asked by another reporter if he understood that “new beginning” means playing “elsewhere,” Tagovailoa reportedly confirmed this.
The comments came on the same day head coach Mike McDaniel confirmed the team would approach the 2025-2026 season with a competitive mindset for the position.
“In 2026, I think there will be competition for our starting quarterback. What it is and what it looks like, there’s a lot that remains to be seen. It’s the most important position on the football field, and you have to make sure you do everything you can to get the best person on the field.”
Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa runs off the field during the first half of an NFL football game against the New England Patriots in Foxborough, Massachusetts, on Jan. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
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“Who it is, whether internally or elsewhere, is something we will be extremely diligent about,” he continued. “But I know there will be competition for those reins. I do know that.”
Tagovailoa threw for 2,660 yards with 20 touchdowns this season, but struggled with accuracy and mobility, throwing a career-high 15 interceptions. His poor performance comes just one season after signing a four-year, $212.4 million contract extension in July 2024.
Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa speaks during a press conference after an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens, Thursday, Oct. 30, 2025, in Miami Gardens, Florida. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
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The Dolphins face a serious decision regarding Tagovailoa, as releasing him next year would result in a dead cap charge of $99 million. If the measure is designated as a post-June 1 release, those fees would be spread over two years, with $67.4 million allocated to the 2026 cap and $31.8 million in 2027.
