The NFL is buzzing about Tua Tagovailoa’s future after the Miami Dolphins quarterback quit football after being benched late in the 2025 season. Tua was once thought to be the long-term face of the organization, but now he is at a crossroads. People are wondering what his job will be in Miami and if he has already played his greatest football.
A season that fell apart
Fans thought that the Dolphins will do better in the 2025 season. Instead, it became a grind full of mistakes, turnovers, and rising animosity inside the group. After a string of bad games, Miami head coach Mike McDaniel said that “everything was on the table” at quarterback. He then benched Tua in favor of youngster Quinn Ewers.
Mike McDaniel COMPARES the SKILLS of Quinn Ewers and Tua Tagovailoa after his first START
Tagovailoa’s problems were impossible to overlook when you looked at the numbers. He had one of the worst QBRs in the league and led the NFL in interceptions, which is a big drop from the efficient quarterback Miami used to build its offense around. The Dolphins plainly needed a reset, even though injuries and protection problems were a factor.After being benched, Tua decided to take a break from football to think about his future. People close to the quarterback say he is taking a break instead of retiring and is focusing on his mental and physical health. Tua spoke in a calm manner in public, saying that his top focus was helping his teammates and dealing with things he couldn’t change.Still, the choice has led to rumors that his time with the Miami Dolphins is coming to an end.
Growing frustration fuels debate
Shannon Sharpe, a former NFL tight end, didn’t hold back when he gave Tagovailoa a harsh review of his season and leadership. Sharpe said that Tua’s performance on the field didn’t match his public confidence, which many Dolphins supporters who were upset agreed with.Reports of locker-room animosity and obvious frustration with teammates only added to the story that the relationship between the quarterback and the team may be breaking down. His contract has a lot to do with any choices made about Tua’s future. Tagovailoa is owed $54 million in full in 2026, and more guarantees are coming in 2027. Trading him before June 1 would help the cap a little, but Miami would still have a lot of dead money. Letting him go completely would hurt the company’s finances even more.For now, it looks like Miami wants to continue the season with Ewers as their quarterback, while Tagovailoa thinks about what to do next. It’s not obvious if that will lead to a return to Miami, a new start somewhere else, or a lengthier break from the game.One thing is for sure: the Dolphins’ quarterback position, which seemed to be settled, is now wide open, and Tua Tagovailoa’s future in the NFL is in doubt.Also Read: Josh Johnson Net Worth: How much does Commanders starting QB makes?