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Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa sparked a backlash within the football community after he publicly criticized his teammates following the team’s fifth loss of the season, this time against the Los Angeles Chargers.
Among those disappointed with the quarterback’s comments was his former head coach, Alabama legend Nick Saban.
Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa reacts after the game against the Los Angeles Chargers at Hard Rock Stadium. (Sam Navarro/Image Images)
Saban, who coached Tagovailoa to a national championship during the 2017 season, said he was surprised to hear some of the comments his former quarterback had made.
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“One of the things I always try to tell our players is to never criticize another player, and in my entire coaching career, you’ve never seen me criticize one of our players. I think everyone has to take responsibility for what they can control, and if they start worrying about the things they can’t control, that will start to affect the things they can control,” Saban said Friday. “The Pat McAfee Show”.
“I was very surprised that Tua did what he didwhen he threw some guys under the bus. “Maybe they’re not playing like they should, I’m not defending the guys, but that can’t be said about your teammate.”
Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban talks with quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (13) during the College Football Playoff National Championship game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Georgia Bulldogs at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The Alabama Crimson Tide won the game in overtime 26-23 in Atlanta, Georgia on January 8, 2018. (Todd Kirkland/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
After the 29-27 loss against Los Angeles, in which Miami falls to 1-5 this season, Tagovailoa vented to the media about his teammates.
DOLPHINS’ MIKE MCDANIEL CRITICIZES TUA TAGOVAILOA FOR PUBLICLY CALLING OUT HIS TEAMMATES: ‘THAT’S NOT THE FORUM’
“We have guys that show up late to player-only meetings. We have guys that don’t show up to player-only meetings. There’s a lot of things that go into that. Do we have to make it mandatory? Don’t we have to make it mandatory? So there’s a lot of things of that nature that we have to clean up. It starts with the little things like that.”
The comments sparked violent reactions around the world. NFLwhich led him to apologize a few days later.
“As a leader of this team, of the Miami Dolphins, the comments that have been said, I have made a mistake,” he said Wednesday, “and I’m acknowledging that right now. I’ve talked to the guys on the team about it, I’ve talked to the leaders about it, and they know my heart. They know the intention was right. But no matter the intention… when things are misinterpreted or how the media wants to portray them, that leaves a void of silence and a lot of questions for the team. guys on our team.”
Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa speaks at a news conference after the Los Angeles Chargers defeated the Dolphins 29-27 in an NFL football game on Sunday, October 12, 2025 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
Tagovailoa saw the incident as a learning opportunity and Saban praised his former player for publicly acknowledging the mistake.
“I was really proud of the way he bounced back and took responsibility for making a mistake.”
The Dolphins will look to bounce back on Sunday on the road against the cleveland browns.
