Tua Tagovailoa is the starting quarterback for the Miami Dolphins, who in 2024 signed him to a four-year, $212.4 million contract extension with $167 million guaranteed. In four full seasons as Miami’s starter, Tagovailoa has a 38-27 record. With the early draft pick investment and a lucrative deal, Dolphins fans have expected an elite quarterback capable of restoring the franchise to its glory days. So far, that hasn’t been the case.
Tagovailoa has reached the playoffs twice, losing in the first round both times. The Dolphins built their team around him, trading for one of the best wide receivers in NFL history, Tyreek Hill, and pairing him with Jaylen Waddle. Yet, time and time again he has disappointed Dolphins fans and been unable to follow through in the playoffs. Supporters of the team have grown restless, as each season ends the same way, without a deep postseason run.
Durability has also been a concern. He has missed 14 games in four full seasons and sustained three documented concussions in the NFL, plus another in college. His medical history has raised questions over whether he should consider retirement, as several players have done after suffering from multiple head injuries.
The concerns resurfaced this year when Tagovailoa declined to wear the guardian cap — a soft-shell padding that goes around the helmet to absorb impact and reduce the severity of head injuries. Given his concussion history, many expected him to take advantage of this equipment and prioritize his health. Instead, he told the press he was relying on “playing it safe,” but that cautious approach has coincided with a 0-3 start for Miami.
Tagovailoa will earn $53.1 million this season. With the Dolphins’ winless start and no playoff victories in sight, fans and critics have begun questioning whether he has been worth the investment. Some argue that the team’s patience is running out, as the high salary comes with high expectations that have not been met. After years of the franchise building the team around him, the frustration continues to grow as Miami searches for the success that has been missing for decades.
