STWF Sports | Dec. 17, 2025 – Two months ago, Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa publicly challenged his teammates, accusing them of lacking commitment and professionalism during a critical stretch of the season. Now, after another crushing loss and a season that has spiraled out of control, Tagovailoa is facing those same criticisms himself — this time with consequences attached.

The Dolphins fell 28–15 to Aaron Rodgers and the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday Night Football, a defeat that eliminated Miami from playoff contention at 6–8 and accelerated organizational changes already underway. On Wednesday, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that the Dolphins will bench Tagovailoa for Sunday’s matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals, handing the offense to rookie quarterback Quinn Ewers.

It marks a dramatic fall for Tagovailoa, who entered the season with a lucrative four-year, $212 million contract extension signed in July 2024. Now, Miami appears ready to evaluate its future without him.

Tua Takes Accountability — Too Late?

In October, Tagovailoa had been vocal about his teammates’ shortcomings, particularly their attendance and punctuality in player-only meetings.

“We have guys showing up late. Guys not showing up,” he said then. “It starts with the little things like that.”

But after Monday’s loss, the quarterback turned that criticism inward.

“For one, I got to play better. I got to be better for our guys offensively,” Tagovailoa admitted. “I’m disappointed with how ready I got our receivers… communication, personnel, where to line up. That’s something I harp on, and I felt like I let our guys down.”

His self-assessment was stark, but head coach Mike McDaniel’s was harsher.

“I think the quarterback play last night was not good enough,” McDaniel said. “Everything’s on the table.”

With McDaniel already coaching for his job following GM Chris Grier’s dismissal, the decision to bench Tagovailoa signals a franchise entering evaluation mode — and one that may be ready to move on from the former first-round pick.

Numbers Tell the Story

Tagovailoa’s record as a starter, 44–32, looks respectable. But the underlying metrics paint a different picture. He leads the NFL in interceptions this season with 15 and ranks 23rd in passer rating (88.5). Miami’s offense, once an explosive unit under McDaniel, has sputtered into inconsistency and turnovers.

The frustration surrounding Miami’s quarterback play reached a breaking point Monday night, captured on national TV when former Dolphins defender Jalen Ramsey delivered a blunt assessment from the broadcast booth:

“He weak as f***,” Ramsey was overheard saying near the end zone.

Harsh or not, Ramsey’s comments echoed the sentiment of many fans online.

“That gives hope for McDaniel,” one fan wrote. “If he insists on Tua being the starter, then I’d be concerned.”

“Would be pretty dumb to say all of this then announce him as starter tomorrow,” another added. “But dumb is kind of the norm here.”

A Division Getting Better — Without Miami

The AFC East has evolved rapidly. Josh Allen continues to carry Buffalo as one of the league’s elite quarterbacks, and rookie Drake Maye has given the New England Patriots new life. In that context, Miami has begun to reassess whether Tagovailoa can realistically compete with the division’s rising stars long-term.

His contract makes the decision complicated — but not impossible. Benching him now signals that Miami is at least preparing for the possibility of an offseason breakup.

The Ewers Era Begins

With the Dolphins eliminated, starting rookie Quinn Ewers is both a showcase and a test. Miami wants clarity — not just for its offense, but for its leadership.

An impressive showing could give McDaniel leverage to argue for a second chance in 2026. A weak one may reinforce the need for even more sweeping changes.

Either way, it won’t save McDaniel’s job this year. But it could help convince Dolphins owner Stephen Ross that the franchise has a forward path — one that doesn’t necessarily include Tagovailoa.

As Miami turns the page on a lost season, Tagovailoa finds himself at the center of a familiar NFL story: a once-promising franchise quarterback whose window may be closing faster than anyone expected.