Tag: Tagovailoa

Dec 15, 2025; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Payton Wilson (41) sacks Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (1) in the third quarter at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Barry Reeger-Imagn Images

Tua Tagovailoa embraces ‘fresh start,’ competition with Falcons

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Tua Tagovailoa said he welcomes the chance to compete for the starting quarterback job in a new NFL city and reboot his career.

The Miami Dolphins selected Tagovailoa with the No. 5 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, signed him to a massive contract extension and then released him last month. He signed a one-year deal with the Atlanta Falcons, where he’s expected to compete with Michael Penix Jr. for the starting job.

“Last year wasn’t the best year for me, and I’m looking for a fresh start in the sense of being able to compete, go back out and play good football,” Tagovailoa said Tuesday, speaking in public for the first time about his career change of course.

The Falcons signed him to a one-year, $1.2 million deal — the veteran minimum — while the Falcons will pay him the more than $50 million he is still owed from the four-year, $212.4 million extension he signed in July 2024.

“The best thing for me right now is making the best of this opportunity that I have with the team in terms of the relationships I make with these guys,” he said. “I get to freaking play football. This is what I dreamed of my entire life. I am going to be present. I’m going to be in the moment. I’m going to be where my feet are.”

Penix, who began the 2025 season as the Falcons’ starter, tore an ACL in Week 11 and missed the rest of the season.

“Everybody, not just those two, is coming in to compete. There are no starters right now,” general manager Ian Cunningham said on March 10, when Tagovailoa joined the Falcons. “We are excited to have Tua, but we’re excited to have all the players we were able to get (via free agency).”

Tagovailoa, 28, said he is OK with competing with Penix.

“Competition is just a thing in the NFL. I am no stranger to competition — had it in college,” Tagovailoa said. “I would say competition is just going to be there, and competition enhances the play of everyone. I don’t think the mindset changes at all. … I embrace the competition. I am excited to work alongside Mike.”

The NFL’s leading passer and a Pro Bowl selection in 2023, Tagovailoa compiled a 44-32 record in six seasons in Miami. He has completed 68.0% of his throws for 18,166 yards with 120 touchdowns and 59 interceptions.

The 2023 season is the only one of his six campaigns in which he appeared in every game. His career has been interrupted by a variety of injuries, including at least three known concussions while in the NFL.

Penix, 25, is 4-8 as a starter, completing 59.6% of his passes for 2,757 yards with 12 touchdowns and six interceptions. Atlanta selected him No. 8 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft.

The agent for veteran quarterback Trevor Siemian confirmed to ESPN on Tuesday that Siemian, 34, also is joining the Falcons’ QB room.

Terms weren’t disclosed for Siemian, who last appeared in an NFL regular-season game in 2023 with the New York Jets. He spent most of the 2024 and 2025 campaigns on the Tennessee Titans’ practice squad.

–Field Level Media

Jul 23, 2025; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (1) speaks to reporters during training camp at Baptist Health Training Complex. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

Falcons GM: Tua Tagovailoa to compete with Michael Penix Jr.

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The Falcons brought in Tua Tagovailoa to compete with Michael Penix Jr. for the starting quarterback role, Atlanta general manager Ian Cunningham confirmed Friday.

“For Tua coming in here, he knows he’s coming in to compete,” Cunningham said during a virtual news conference, per ESPN. “Just like Michael knows that he’s coming in to compete and everybody, quite frankly — not just those two at the quarterback position — but everybody’s coming in to compete.”

Tagovailoa agreed to a one-year, $1.3 million deal earlier this week after being released by the Miami Dolphins, who owe him $54 million guaranteed for 2026.

A first-round draft pick (fifth overall) in 2020 and the NFL’s leading passer and a Pro Bowl selection in 2023, Tagovailoa compiled a 44-32 record in six seasons in Miami.

The Falcons learned from an earlier misstep by letting Penix know beforehand about the Tagovailoa signing. In 2024, Atlanta drafted Penix with the eighth overall pick just weeks after signing fellow quarterback Kirk Cousins to a $100 million guaranteed contract. Cousins was confused and surprised by the draft selection and ultimately lost his job to Penix late in the 2024 campaign. Cousins was released this week.

“You don’t want to blindside somebody, and that’s just how we operate,” said Cunningham, who was hired in January along with new head coach Kevin Stefanski and president of football Matt Ryan.

“We want to have open conversations and communication, and I feel like we did that in regards to Michael and Tua.”

Penix, a left-hander like Tagovailoa, is recovering from a torn ACL sustained in mid-November. He has said he will be ready for the season opener.

Penix, 25, is 4-8 as a starter, completing 59.6% of his passes for 2,757 yards with 12 touchdowns and six interceptions.

Tagovailoa, 28, has completed 68.0% of his throws for 18,166 yards with 120 touchdowns and 59 interceptions.

–Field Level Media

Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby could be on the move this offseason. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

Make a deal? Breaking down cost of trades for A.J. Brown, Maxx Crosby, Tua, Kyler Murray

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Trade season is about to pick up in the NFL, with the window open on Tuesday for teams to apply the franchise tag and free agency set to begin next month.

Last March, the biggest deals consummated before checks were cut to free agents were trades sending DK Metcalf from the Seahawks to the Pittsburgh Steelers, Seattle offloading quarterback Geno Smith to the Las Vegas Raiders, and left tackle Laremy Tunsil relocating from the Houston Texans to the Commanders and being joined by wide receiver Deebo Samuel, who came to Washington from the San Francisco 49ers.

While Seattle’s plan wasn’t fully clear at the time — the Seahawks signed free agent Sam Darnold and went on to win Super Bowl LX — there are plenty of teams with intentions to kick the tires on trades this month as part of a long-term vision unclear to most observers.

What will it cost to make those deals reality?

Here’s a look at veterans who could be on the trade block and what it might cost to execute a deal for the suitor and the seller.

Eagles WR A.J. Brown
Age at season’s start: 29
2026 cap hit: $23.4 million
2026 cap hit with new team if traded: $7 million

With four years and more than $110 million left on A.J. Brown’s contract, he’s not a fit for every WR-needy operation. It’s debatable if he can fit back in with the Philadelphia Eagles.

A love-hate relationship developed between quarterback Jalen Hurts and Brown somewhere along the line and “sorry” isn’t going to fix it. But to what ends will the Eagles go to get Brown out of their hair? They’d have to eat $43.5 million on the 2026 cap if he’s traded. But does GM Howie Roseman decide harmony is priceless and pull the plug on this one anyway? Brown appears destined to take the path of Jalen Ramsey, the 31-year-old universally lauded cornerback who has been traded three times (Jaguars to Rams, Rams to Dolphins, Dolphins to Steelers).

Raiders DE Maxx Crosby
Age at season’s start: 29
2026 cap hit: $35.88 million
2026 cap hit with new team if traded: $30.79 million

Only about $5 million in dead cap would hit the Raiders’ books in 2026 and if the front office — plus over-the-shoulder minority owner Tom Brady — find a trade they can get behind, Crosby might be on the move. If the New York Jets or Dallas Cowboys decide Crosby if worth multiple first-round picks or other valuable assets (an offensive tackle would be a good starting point for Raiders GM John Spytek), now would be a fine time to hit reset and clear $30 million from the ’26 cap. If any suitor balks at a Godfather trade demand, Las Vegas should sit tight until at least the October trade deadline when Crosby’s value will still be significant.

Cardinals QB Kyler Murray
Age at season’s start: 29
2026 cap hit: $52.7 million
2026 cap hit with new team if traded: $24.9 million

Comparison shoppers, avert your eyes. The Cardinals had Murray on the field for 30 total games the past three seasons and paid him $158.5 million in base salary and bonuses from 2023-25. It’s understandable why Arizona wants to move on, and the structure of his deal implies there could be interest despite the history of injuries and inconsistent performance.

Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa
Age at season’s start: 28
2026 cap hit: $56.3 million
2026 cap hit with new team if traded: $42.9 million

A dead cap hit of $45.2 million sounds devastating, but the Dolphins could survive it if they believe in seventh-round rookie Quinn Ewers or draft another potential replacement in April at a fraction of the 2026 salary owed Tagovailoa. At his current cost, keeping Tagovailoa would mean Miami pays him more than the Rams pay Matthew Stafford ($48.3 million cap number), the 2025 NFL MVP and well above what these recognizable names will cost their clubs next season: Joe Burrow, Justin Herbert, Sam Darnold, Jordan Love, Jalen Hurts, Brock Purdy, Trevor Lawrence.

The new decision-makers in Miami survived this process in Green Bay when Aaron Rodgers was traded and the Packers put their trust in untested Jordan Love.

The Dolphins aren’t likely going to cash in on a Tagovailoa trade by netting a massive return. Almost any compensation, in fact, is unlikely. The current scenario is more similar to the Broncos swallowing a cap hit of over $80 million and ending the marriage with Russell Wilson after one season paired with head coach Sean Payton. Denver would testify the move was the right one. The Broncos drafted Bo Nix and finished the 2025 regular season as the No. 1 seed in the AFC playoffs.

–Field Level Media

Tua Tagovailoa: ‘I would be good with’ fresh start in ‘26

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Tua Tagovailoa signaled he would be open to move on from the Miami Dolphins as the players cleaned out their lockers Monday, and coach Mike McDaniel said he will meet with Tagovailoa on Tuesday morning to discuss how to move forward.

Tagovailoa, who was benched after Week 15 in favor of rookie quarterback Quinn Ewers, hadn’t previously indicated whether he believed he had played his last game for the franchise that drafted him fifth overall in 2020.

Reporters asked Tagovailoa Monday if he was hoping for a fresh start next season. The quarterback simply responded, “That would be dope. I would be good with it.”

Tagovailoa, 27, added that he understood the question was about playing elsewhere. He declined to share more.

The six-year NFL veteran said he was disappointed when McDaniel benched him in mid-December but did not elaborate further. He was benched less than a year and a half after inking a four-year, $212.5 million contract extension with the team, guaranteeing him $167 million.

The Dolphins fired Chris Grier, the general manager who signed him to that deal, in October. Tagovailoa is guaranteed $54 million in 2026, which could affect the Dolphins’ decision-making process.

Tagovailoa threw for 2,660 yards, 20 touchdowns and a career-high 15 interceptions in 14 games (all starts) this season. He went 6-8 as a starter and the Dolphins slipped out of the playoff race before finishing 7-10.

McDaniel told reporters his meeting with Tagovailoa was planned for Tuesday morning at 8 a.m. He also pointed to the moving piece of the front office needing a new leader.

“I don’t think anybody quite understands what it’d be like to be through the ringer of a year that he’s had. So to remove emotions, to have a conversation will be very healthy. And beyond that, we’re still in the process of having a GM hired.”

–Field Level Media

Mike McDaniel on hold, but playing role in Dolphins GM talks

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Mike McDaniel anticipates coaching the Miami Dolphins for a fifth season in 2025 and is involved in discussions regarding the franchise search for a new general manager.

McDaniel said Monday that he plans to continue operating as head coach of the Dolphins unless he’s told otherwise, but pointed to signals indicating owner Stephen Ross might have already decided to keep him around. McDaniel said he’s “happy to support” internal discussions around the next general manager but does not believe it’s his decision to make.

In the meantime, Ross and McDaniel agreed to meet later in the week after they had a conversation in the past 24 hours.

“The bottom line is our product needs to be better,” McDaniel said. “We can’t just hope, we have to create change.”

With a 35-33 record in four seasons, McDaniel posted a second consecutive losing season in 2025 and general manager Chris Grier didn’t make it to the finish line. The Dolphins ended the season 7-10 but started 1-6.

“I’ll just flat out say it: The season was a failure,” McDaniel said. “The organization is depending on me to take a hard look at everything.”

Aspects of the team structure are in flux and context from the GM search might be vital when the organization closely examines the key characters in the Dolphins’ next act. If McDaniel says, he vowed on Monday to have competition at quarterback. Rookie Quinn Ewers was elevated to the starting spot last month, casting further doubt about the future of Tua Tagovailoa.

McDaniel said he’s scheduled to sit down for a “healthy conversation” with Tagovailoa on Tuesday.

Tagovailoa threw 15 interceptions and was sacked 30 times before McDaniel made the switch to Ewers. Tagovailoa was 6-8 in starting the first 14 games and completed 67.7% of his passes for 2,660 yards and 20 touchdowns in his sixth season with the Dolphins.

Asked by local reporters if he would welcome a fresh start elsewhere, Tagovailoa, 27, voiced interest in relocating.

“That would be dope,” he said. “I would be good with it.”

McDaniel

Dolphins coach on potential QB change: ‘Everything is on the table’

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel told reporters Tuesday that he’s considering a quarterback change from traditional starter Tua Tagovailoa.

McDaniel’s comments came one day after the Dolphins (6-8) were eliminated from playoff contention with a 28-15 setback to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

“The quarterback play last night was not good enough,” McDaniel said. “So for me, everything is on the table.”

Tagovailoa, 27, completed 6 of 10 passes for 65 yards while throwing his NFL-leading 15th interception through the first three quarters of Monday’s game. He finished 22 of 28 for 253 yards with a pair of late touchdowns to tight end Darren Waller.

Tagovailoa has thrown for 2,660 yards and 20 touchdowns this season for the Dolphins, who host the Cincinnati Bengals (4-10) on Sunday.

Zach Wilson and rookie Quinn Ewers have seen limited work this season. The former completed 6 of 9 passes for 32 yards in three games, while the latter is 5-for-8 for 53 yards in one game.

McDaniel said he is “trying to determine who gives us the best chance to win.” He also noted that he will have a decision on Wednesday as to who will start Sunday.

–Field Level Media

Nov 3, 2024; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (1) on the sidelines with head coach Mike McDaniel in the second quarter game against the Buffalo Bills at Highmark Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-Imagn Images

Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa on benching: ‘Not proud of where I am’

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa was reflective when questioned about his performance immediately after Sunday’s 31-6 loss to the Cleveland Browns.

Tagovailoa threw three interceptions at Cleveland and mustered only 100 passing yards with 12 completions and a career-worst passer rating of 24.1.

“Not happy,” Tagovailoa said Sunday. “Not proud of where I am with my play. With how I’ve gone about things this year. I have to be better.”

The Dolphins totaled 219 net yards and went 1 of 13 on third down.

Tagovailoa also fumbled three times — losing none — and Miami had six total fumbles and recovered five.

“We (had) probably 20 plays that are self-inflicted wounds, and you can’t even get onto beating the opponent if you beat yourself,” Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel said.

The Browns scored 21 points off of four turnovers and improved to 2-5 while Miami slid to 1-6 and pumped up the volume on whether the Dolphins could fire McDaniel and consider other changes. Tagovailoa’s third pick of the game at the 10-minute mark in the fourth quarter prompted Miami to insert rookie Quinn Ewers at quarterback. It followed a near pick-6 on the previous possession only 59 seconds earlier when Tagovailoa was intercepted on a pass out of his own end zone.

Browns cornerback Tyson Campbell scored a defensive touchdown for Cleveland in the third quarter, snagging a Tagovailoa pass and taking it to the end zone for a 34-yard score.

“Players frustrations prevented us from executing today,” McDaniel said. “I’m looking for guys to lean into the team and not feel like, ‘oh I did alright, it’s not my fault.’ No. That’s not how it works. We all have to stay together and we all have to be focused.”

Ewers finished the game 5-of-8 passing for 53 yards and was sacked twice.

Miami plays at Atlanta next week and has a home Thursday primetime matchup with the Baltimore Ravens (1-5) four days later on Oct. 30.

–Field Level Media

Oct 12, 2025; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (1) looks on from the field against the Los Angeles Chargers during the third quarter at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

Mike McDaniel: ‘Wrong forum’ for Dolphins QB to call out teammates

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel considered quarterback Tua Tagovailoa’s criticism Sunday of teammates for tardiness and attendance to meetings “misguided.”

Shortly after Miami dropped a 29-27 decision to the Chargers at home, Tagovailoa called for accountability from teammates he said were late to players-only meetings. The Dolphins are 1-5 after missing the playoffs last season.

“I’ve got a lot of things to worry about and one of them is not those comments and where our team is lying after that,” McDaniel said. “We’ve just had meetings about the (Chargers) game itself, the factual successes and failures that led to the ultimate result and that’s where people’s focus needs to be. We are all very motivated to fix our problems and find a way to win.”

McDaniel said Tagovailoa addressed the team and will “live and learn” from using the postgame press conference to deliver a message to teammates.

“I think regardless of intent and what was on Tua’s mind after a loss, as the franchise quarterback that’s not the forum to displace that — I think he knows that,” McDaniel said Monday. “Now, I do honestly believe there was no ill intention, but you’re talking about, I think, a misguided representation of player-orchestrated film sessions. The bottom line is no one’s going to be happy and always are looking for reasons for failure to succeed. So you’re trying to look for reasons that you can attribute to losses and heavy is the crown of being a franchise quarterback.”

Tagovailoa, 27, said Sunday the accumulation of losses can only be reversed if “leadership” makes clear what’s expected of players.

“Well, I think it starts with the leadership in helping articulate that for the guys, and then what we’re expecting out of the guys,” he said Sunday. “We’re expecting this. Are we getting that? Are we not getting that? We have guys showing up to player-only meetings late. Guys not showing up to player-only meetings. There is a lot that goes into that. Do we have to make that mandatory? Do we not have to make that mandatory? So it’s a lot of things of that nature that we got to get cleaned up. It starts with the little things like that.”

The Dolphins visit the Cleveland Browns (1-5) on Sunday.

–Field Level Media

Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (1) and wide receiver Tyreek Hill (10) take the field before the opening game of the season against the New England Patriots at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Sept. 11, 2022.

Tua Tagovailoa: Tyreek Hill rebuilding trust with QB, Dolphins

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Before Tyreek Hill can run a nine route or post pattern, his quarterback and Miami Dolphins’ teammates are eager to cover some other ground.

Tua Tagovailoa said Hill is starting to rebuild relationships left somewhere between fractured and entirely flamed when the 31-year-old wide receiver removed himself from the season finale against the New York Jets, ripped teammates and requested, informally, relocation out of Miami.

“It’s not just with me, it’s with a lot of the guys,” Tagovailoa said. “I’m not the only one that heard that. You guys aren’t the only people that heard that. A lot of people that follow football, that follow the Miami Dolphins, that follow Tyreek that are fans of his — everyone has seen that. So, when you say something like that, you don’t just come back from that with, ‘Hey, my bad.’ You got to work that relationship up, you’ve got to build everything back up again.”

Hill publicly signaled he was changing direction on Tuesday, claiming his perspective changed with a pause in the offseason and vowing to be a “better leader” and the “best version” of himself going forward.

Tagovailoa said he believes the words are more than that this time, describing Hill as more vulnerable and transparent.

“Being vulnerable with some of the things that people know about his personal life and things of that nature. And I think that’s the first step to him,” Tagovailoa said. “Building true relationships and a real connection with a lot of the guys in there.

“Everyone knows what he can do on the field. Everyone respects what he can do on the field, but I think he’s still trying to figure things out for himself as well. … Everybody makes mistakes. … So just got to cut him some grace. I mean, that’s our teammate. We love him, but as a person, if you get to know him, I think you’d love him too.”

–Field Level Media

Dec 22, 2024; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (1) reacts front field after theme against the San Francisco 49ers at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa (hip) doubtful to play against Jets

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is listed as doubtful for Sunday’s game against the New York Jets and considered highly unlikely to play.

This will be the second straight start Tagovailoa will miss. Tyler Huntley is slated to start the contest.

“We’ll approach it like Snoop’s starting,” Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel said, referencing Huntley by his nickname. “It looks like the way that I approached the week (before) was probably smart. I see it as unlikely that Tua will see any action.”

The Dolphins (8-8) need a win to have any chance of making the playoffs, but McDaniel doesn’t feel the injury is something Tagovailoa can play through.

“A bruise would be like pain tolerance,” McDaniel said. “That’s something that I think Tua wishes it was just a pain issue. It’s quite literally being able to have the strength to do what we ask him to do, as well as protecting himself from very serious injury if we don’t treat it appropriately. I wouldn’t say it’s a bruise, but it’s a unique muscle issue as a result of the hip.”

Tagovailoa told reporters on Friday that he is frustrated to be dealing with an injury while the team’s playoffs hopes are on the line.

He told reporters that he would definitely play if the Dolphins have a playoff game next week. Miami must beat the Jets and have the Denver Broncos lose to the Kansas City Chiefs for the Dolphins to make the postseason field.

“If the cards play out the way they should, and the way we know and think they can, I’m going to be available next week,” Tagovailoa said. “There’s no ifs, ands, or buts. I’ll be playing for sure.”

Tagovaiola missed four games earlier in the season due to a concussion but has played well when healthy by passing for 2,867 yards, 19 touchdowns and seven interceptions in 11 games. He has completed a league-leading 72.9 percent of his passes.

Sunday would mark Huntley’s fifth start of the season. He has passed for 602 yards, two touchdowns and one interception while going 2-2 as the starter. He has also rushed for two scores.

Miami linebacker Anthony Walker (knee) will miss the contest. Receivers Tyreek Hill (wrist/illness), Jaylen Waddle (knee) and Dee Eskridge (finger) are questionable, as are left tackle Terron Armstead (knee), defensive tackle Calais Campbell (neck) and safety Jevon Holland (wrist).

Jets star cornerback Sauce Gardner (hamstring) will miss the contest.

–Field Level Media