Miami Dolphins Head Coach Mike McDaniel Upholds Faith in Tua Tagovailoa at NFL Scouting Combine

With the former Crimson Tide quarterback up for a contract extension this offseason, McDaniel remained confident in Tagovailoa as Miami's long-term starting signal-caller.

INDIANAPOLIS — Ever since former Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa was drafted sixth overall by the Miami Dolphins in 2020, criticism has surrounded him like water surrounds south Florida. 

While the outside noise is still ever-present, Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel reiterated his strong belief in Tagovailoa at the NFL Scouting Combine on Tuesday. 

“My belief has always been strong from Day 1 in Tua. It’s stronger than it was the first day I met him," McDaniel said. "And that’s because of that relationship where I’m focused, which is continuing to provide the coaching so he can continue to evolve his game as he has since the second that I started talking to him.”

Tagovailoa has been an especially hot topic of discussion of late because of his contract situation. The former Crimson Tide signal-caller is up for an extension this offseason, and McDaniel said he's "very encouraged" by the current state of talks between the two parties, although he also said that "those timelines are impossible to predict". 

Regardless of what the future ultimately entails, McDaniel's outlook on his starting quarterback remained verbally positive on Tuesday. McDaniel attributed his steady faith in Tagovailoa to the fact that 2023 was the first time he started every single game for the Dolphins

"He had more reps than he’s ever had in his career because he played the full season," McDaniel said. That was something that, in football, there’s a lot of things that can happen. There’s also a lot of things you can control. I think one of the best examples of taking control over your career is what Tua was able to do through training and being able to experience all the different things."

Those different things also included uncharted waters after the regular season concluded. 

“I mean shoot, experience a playoff game for the first time in his career That was afforded to him because he was able to be leading the team week in, week out."

Heading into 2024 with (possibly) a contract extension and a full calendar year of (almost) 100 percent health, Tagovailoa will once again be expected to lead a Dolphins squad that's in position for a Super Bowl appearance. 

Throughout his journey, Tagovailoa has taken positive steps every year. After an up-and-down first two seasons, his numbers took a leap in year three as the Dolphins became one of the most dangerous offenses in the league. Last season, he was finally able to play in every regular season game and experienced the playoffs for the first time, even if it saw Miami lose in convincing fashion to the eventual Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs. 

While doubters will persist, McDaniel has seen enough to believe that Tagovailoa will continue to improve. 

"These are things that weren’t necessarily assumed he was capable of doing," McDaniel said. "But like most things that Tua has done in his career, he’s recognized that and proved doubters wrong.”

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