The Miami Dolphins have officially announced the release of quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. Reports surfaced on Monday morning confirming the departure of the former first-round draft pick, which the team highlighted through a social media video captioned, “Thanks for the memories, Tua.”
In a formal statement, general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan remarked, “I recently informed Tua and his representation that we are going to move in a new direction at the quarterback position and will be releasing him after the start of the new league year. As I shared with Tua, I have great respect for the person and player he is. On behalf of the Miami Dolphins, I expressed our gratitude for his many contributions, both on the field and in the community, during his six seasons in Miami.”
Tagovailoa”s release will take effect when the new league year begins on Wednesday, and it carries a post-June 1 designation primarily for accounting reasons. This move will prove costly for the Dolphins, as they will incur $99.2 million in dead money, setting an NFL record. This dead money can be allocated across two seasons.
With the departure of Tagovailoa, the newly established leadership team, including Sullivan and head coach Jeff Hafley, now faces the challenge of addressing their quarterback situation. The Dolphins selected Tagovailoa with the fifth overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, expecting him to be their long-term solution at quarterback. He was the second quarterback chosen that year, following Joe Burrow, and was picked ahead of Justin Herbert.
In the 2023 season, Tagovailoa earned a Pro Bowl selection after leading Miami to an 11-6 record and throwing for a league-best 4,624 yards. However, that was the only season in which he played all games, as injuries and concussions plagued his career. Despite these challenges, the Dolphins signed him to a four-year, $212.4 million contract extension in July 2024, which was set to last through the 2028 season.
Last season, Tagovailoa lost favor with the coaching staff, leading former head coach Mike McDaniel to bench him in favor of rookie Quinn Ewers with three games remaining. In the first 14 games of the season, he recorded a 6-8 record, throwing 20 touchdowns against a career-high 15 interceptions.
The Dolphins” options at quarterback now remain uncertain. According to Spotrac, the team has two quarterbacks under contract for the 2026 season aside from Tagovailoa: Ewers, a seventh-round pick from Texas, and Cam Miller, a sixth-round selection from the Las Vegas Raiders. Miller was picked up from the Raiders” practice squad in January.
Additionally, former second overall pick Zach Wilson, who signed a one-year contract before the 2025 season, is now a free agent. The Dolphins hold the 11th overall pick in the upcoming draft, and if they seek a veteran quarterback, notable players like Kirk Cousins, Kyler Murray, and Geno Smith are also expected to be released by their respective teams.
As Sullivan stated in the team”s announcement, “As we move forward, we will be focused on infusing competition across the roster and establishing a strong foundation for this team as we work towards building a sustained winner.”
Tagovailoa”s career in Miami concludes with 18,166 passing yards, 120 touchdowns, 59 interceptions, and a 68% completion rate over 78 games, including 76 starts. He finished with a starter record of 44-32, along with 473 rushing yards and six touchdowns.
