Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is open to a “fresh start” in 2026.
Tua Tagovailoa Teases 2026 Future
Asked if he is hoping for a “fresh start,” Miami Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa said, “That would be dope. I would be good with it.”
— Joe Schad (@schadjoe) January 5, 2026
Tagovailoa’s time in Miami might be coming to an end this offseason.
The first step toward a potential breakup occurred when coach Mike McDaniel benched Tagovailoa following the team’s Week 15 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Rookie Quinn Ewers started the final three games of the season, with Tagovailoa serving as the team’s emergency third quarterback.
On Monday, players spoke to the media for the last time this season. Tagovailoa was asked about a potential fresh start in 2026.
“That would be dope,” Tagovailoa said via Joe Schad. “I would be good with it.”
Meanwhile, McDaniel is expected to remain the coach in 2026. As for the quarterback position, McDaniel believes there will be a “competition” for the job. Ewers was not ruled out as an option.
As for Tagovailoa, the 27-year-old will meet with McDaniel on Tuesday morning to discuss his future with the team.
Tagovailoa finished the 2025 campaign with 2,660 yards, 20 touchdowns, and 15 interceptions in 14 games.
Tua Tagovailoa Options in 2026
Coach Mike McDaniel is live at the podium
— Miami Dolphins (@MiamiDolphins) January 5, 2026
Things were looking up for the Dolphins following the 2023 season. Tagovailoa led the Dolphins to the postseason with an 11-6 record. Tagovailoa led the NFL in passing yards that season with 4,624. The Dolphins lost to the Kansas City Chiefs in the Wild Card round.
Before the 2024 season, Tagovailoa signed a four-year, $212.4 million contract extension, the biggest deal in Miami Dolphins’ history.
Things have not panned out for the Dolphins since Tagovailoa signed the deal. Tagovailoa missed six games in 2024 with head and hip injuries. By the end of this season, Tagovailoa was benched for a rookie.
All signs are pointing toward the Dolphins moving on from Tagovailoa. How Miami achieves that is still a work in progress.
The best-case scenario for the Dolphins is to trade Tagovailoa to another team. However, what team is going to want a struggling Tagovailoa with a high cap number?
The Dolphins would likely need to attach a valuable draft pick in a Tagovailoa trade. If the Dolphins trade him in a pre-June 1 deal, the Dolphins would save $11.2 million. If the deal occurred after June 1, the Dolphins would clear $43 million in cap space.
The more probable action is releasing Tagovailoa, who carries a $56.4 million cap hit in 2026. Cutting him pre-June 1 would result in a $99.2 million cap hit in 2026. Designating Tagovailoa as a post-June 1 release would spread that cap hit across two seasons — $67.4 million in 2026 and $31.8 million in 2027.
