Tua Tagovailoa has a new coach… for now.
On Thursday, GM Jon-Eric Sullivan — himself a new Miami hire — introduced Jeff Hafley as the franchise’s new coach and addressed the biggest remaining item on the Dolphins’ to-do list: his $212.4 million quarterback.
“Obviously that’s a huge question looming over the organization,” Sullivan told reporters. “I have a lot of respect for Tua. He’s a good football player. He’s accomplished a lot in this league. I think whether it’s Tua or anyone else, it’s unfair and irresponsible to sit up here and talk about anything specific before I talk to the player himself.”
Tagovailoa, 27, is coming off his worst professional campaign as a starter, throwing 15 interceptions in 14 games that included being benched by his now former coach, Mike McDaniel, for rookie Quinn Ewers.
This offseason, the Alabama product said it would be “dope” if he were to get a fresh start somewhere else.
Sullivan, however, wasn’t ready to speculate.
“Quarterback is the most important position in professional sports. I also think it’s the most dependent,” he said. “We will evaluate the position like we evaluate every other position, and we will do what is best for this football team.
“With Tua or anybody else, to sit up here today and tell you that I have a great understanding of what we’re gonna do or which way we’re gonna go, that would be a lie because there’s just too much work to do.”
Miami faltered its way to a 7-10 record, its second straight season missing the playoffs. The result saw McDaniel shown the door after GM Chris Grier was fired midseason.
Moving on from Tagovailoa is no easy task for Sullivan: the QB is on the books for a $56.4 million cap hit next season and his 2025 effort — completing 67.7% of his pass attempts for 2,660 yards with 20 touchdowns, 15 interceptions and eight fumbles — hampered any semblance of a trade market.
Simply cutting him would result in $99.2 million of dead cap space. He has a potential opt-out following the 2026 season that would leave a $34.8 million dead cap hit.
