The NFL community has been riveted by the evolving tension between Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and former head coach Brian Flores, a conflict that recently resurfaced with Tagovailoa’s pointed criticism of Flores.
Tagovailoa, selected fifth overall in the 2020 NFL Draft by the Dolphins, recently shared his frustrations about his time under Flores' leadership. Speculation had long suggested that Flores had preferred Justin Herbert, who was drafted by the Los Angeles Chargers, over Tagovailoa. Dolphins GM Chris Grier ultimately made the decision to draft Tagovailoa.
Tagovailoa's entry into the NFL was a gradual one. He didn’t see game action until a Week 6 matchup against the New York Jets. By Week 8, he earned his first start against the Los Angeles Rams. However, his beginner’s experience was rocky, with Flores repeatedly substituting Ryan Fitzpatrick for Tagovailoa during crucial moments—once in the fourth quarter of a Week 11 game against the Denver Broncos and again in Week 16 against the Las Vegas Raiders.
Tensions Surface
Tagovailoa recently described the emotional toll of his early NFL career: “To put it in the simplest terms, if you woke up every morning and I told you that you suck at what you did, that you don't belong doing what you do, that you shouldn't be here, that this guy should be here, that you haven't earned this. And then you have somebody else come in and tell you, 'Dude, you are the best fit for this. You're accurate. You're the best whatever, you're this, you're that.' How would it make you feel listening to one or the other?”
Change in Leadership
Following a 9-8 season, Flores' tenure with the Dolphins concluded in January 2022. With his departure, Mike McDaniel stepped in as the new head coach. Under McDaniel’s guidance, Tagovailoa thrived, leading the NFL in passer rating in 2022 and passing yards in 2023. The positive shift was palpable as Tagovailoa celebrated his first Pro Bowl selection. Describing the shift, he noted, “I just feel like there are so many things that have happened. There are a lot of changes, and a lot of good changes, I guess, with the people that we've picked up and the guys that we've acquired as well. The locker room feels different.”
McDaniel's approach clearly resonated with Tagovailoa. At their introductory meeting, McDaniel expressed his commitment: “We're gonna have an extensive professional relationship, my man. One thing I know about you is, you have the ambition to be great. My job is to coach you to get all that greatness out of you… This is an awesome day for me, and I'm damn sure gonna make sure that when you look back on this day, you're gonna be like, 'Damn, that was one of the best days of my career, too.' But I'll earn that from you, you got me?”
Flores' Perspective
Brian Flores, now a linebackers coach with the Pittsburgh Steelers, has had his own reflections on the situation. Addressing Tagovailoa's criticisms, Flores said: “Look, I'm human. So that hit me in a way that wasn't positive for me. But at the same time, I've got to use that and say, 'Hey, how can I grow from that? How can I be better?' And that's really where I'm at from that standpoint. Do I feel like that's me? No. But how can I grow from that situation and create a world where that's not the case that anyone says that about Brian Flores?”
Finding Support
In McDaniel, Tagovailoa found the support he sorely needed. “I think support for any of us as players means a lot. We understand that the NFL is a tough industry. It's tough to play because you're playing against the best every Sunday. But to be able to have support of the head coach, the head guy, that should tell you a lot,” Tagovailoa shared.
The dynamic between a quarterback and his head coach can often define the trajectory of both careers. For Tagovailoa, the shift from Flores to McDaniel marked a transformative period, turning criticisms into accolades and setting a new course for his NFL journey.