Miami’s season is already lost, and sticking with an inconsistent quarterback will only waste the next one.
The Miami Dolphins must move on from Tua Tagovailoa. It’s time.
At one point, Tagovailoa looked like the franchise’s long-term answer — the quarterback to lead Miami out of decades of mediocrity. But that optimism has collapsed. The team’s patience, resources and playoff hopes can’t continue to hinge on the same broken formula.
Performance has collapsed
Tagovailoa’s decline this season is undeniable. He has thrown 10 interceptions in seven games, and the Dolphins sit at 1-6. In Sunday’s 31-6 loss to the Browns, he posted a career-worst 24.1 passer rating.
The tape doesn’t lie. His footwork has grown sloppy. His decision-making has slowed. His deep ball has lost bite.
This isn’t the same player who led the league in passing yards two seasons ago. The edge, confidence and command that once defined his game are gone.
Health, durability and upside worries
Tagovailoa’s injury history — including multiple concussions and other significant setbacks — remains a legitimate concern. No amount of optimism can mask the risk tied to his durability. When your quarterback’s health is a weekly question mark, your franchise can’t build consistency.
Contract and investment misalignment
The Dolphins guaranteed roughly $54 million of Tagovailoa’s contract for next season. That’s elite money for subpar results. It locks Miami into a deal that no longer matches performance, putting the team in cap limbo and limiting flexibility to improve elsewhere.
Time for a new direction
The Dolphins have issues up and down the roster — the offensive line remains shaky, the defense is inconsistent, and the running game disappears when it matters. But none of that overshadows the biggest problem: the quarterback.
Tua Tagovailoa plays the most important position in sports, and his performance defines everything around him. When he struggles, the entire operation falls apart. His decision-making has regressed, his arm strength limits the playbook, and his lack of pocket awareness continues to cost Miami critical drives.
Good teams can survive weak spots elsewhere. They can’t survive inconsistency at quarterback. Miami keeps waiting for Tagovailoa to take the next step, but the leap never comes. Every week brings the same story — short passes, stalled drives and turnovers that bury any momentum.
Until the Dolphins fix the quarterback position, nothing else will matter.
Leadership and locker room tone
Tagovailoa has admitted he’s “definitely not happy” with his play and “not proud” of where he stands. That honesty is fine, but the constant self-reflection only underscores the gap between expectations and execution.
Former players and media voices have called out his lack of leadership and command. A team that doesn’t fully believe in its quarterback won’t fight for him when things get ugly — and right now, things are ugly.
The bottom line
Miami’s front office must stop pretending that this version of Tua Tagovailoa can get the job done. He’s a likable figure, but this is a results league. The turnovers, the regression, the lack of command — they’ve all become defining traits.
This season is already wasted. The record says it, the film confirms it, and the locker room feels it. But what happens next still matters. The Dolphins can’t afford to waste another year waiting for something that isn’t coming.
Tagovailoa has shown flashes of what the Dolphins hoped he’d become, but flashes aren’t enough anymore. Miami needs stability, command and consistency at the most important position — and Tagovailoa hasn’t delivered that.
It’s time to close the book on the Tua era. The Dolphins need to draft a quarterback in 2026 and move forward with a new plan.
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