Ex–Super Bowl Champion Explains Why the Dolphins Benched Tua Tagovailoa
This article was originally published on Total Pro Sports.
The Miami Dolphins’ decision to bench quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has sparked intense debate across the NFL world. While the move comes amid a disappointing 2025 season, some analysts and former champions argue the benching was unfair, citing context beyond raw statistics.
In this article, we break down the real reasons behind the benching, the veteran’s performance, and the perspective shared by an ex–Super Bowl MVP who believes the decision overlooks key factors.
Why the Dolphins Benched Tua Tagovailoa
The Dolphins officially benched Tua Tagovailoa in favor of rookie quarterback Quinn Ewers after Miami was eliminated from playoff contention in the 2025 season. Head coach Mike McDaniel stated he believed Ewers gives the team “the best chance to win” the remaining games.
A major move in Miami: the Dolphins are benching QB Tua Tagovailoa and turning to Quinn Ewers as their new starting QB, per sources.
Ewers’ first start comes Sunday vs. the Bengals. pic.twitter.com/lzs2J1EfjP
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 17, 2025
The decision followed a stretch in which Tagovailoa struggled, including throwing a league-high 15 interceptions and finishing games with inconsistent efficiency.
Despite once being a cornerstone for the Dolphins, especially after signing a four-year, $212 million extension in 2024, Tagovailoa’s 2025 season did not meet expectations, prompting the change.
Ex–Super Bowl Champion’s Take: “It’s “Unfair”
Speaking on the Rich Eisen Show, former Super Bowl MVP Kurt Warner believes benching Tua was “unfair,” arguing that context and environmental factors are important.
Speaking on the show, Warner said, “We’ve seen Tua play at an extremely high level in this offense. But this year, he didn’t… What you see, often times, when you watch this Miami offense is that it’s kind of feast or famine. There have been games this year where you go, ‘Oh, there it is! There’s the offense they’re trying to run! It looks almost picture perfect. Tua is the perfect fit for this offense.’”
Kurt Warner further explained Tua Tagovailoa’s performance in the 2025 season and said, “Tua has taken a dip this year, the offense has taken a dip this year. That’s why we’ve gotten to this point, where we’re asking a question about the future. Make no mistake: this is not an easy offense for any quarterback to get plugged into. If you don’t have certain skillsets – accuracy and anticipation – this can be a really tough offense to run.”
What the Stats Say About Tagovailoa’s 2025 Struggles
While there is sympathy for Tua’s situation, one can’t ignore the statistical context. His 2025 season saw:
- 15 interceptions, the most in the NFL
- A subpar completion percentage trend
- Multiple games with low yardage output
These numbers, while not the sole indicators of value, influenced McDaniel’s decision to shift direction.
Dolphins Head Coach Explains the Team’s Position
Coach McDaniel gave insight into why the starting job shifted to Quinn Ewers, saying:
“I think Quinn gives this team the best chance to win. Our focus is, obviously, to win the next three games…”
Tua Tagovailoa’s Response After Dolphins Benched Him
Tagovailoa himself expressed disappointment but professionalism after the announcement. He acknowledged his performance this season and reiterated his commitment to the team’s success, saying:
“I’m disappointed. I’m not happy about it. But it’s something out of my control… I’ll do my part to help whoever the quarterback is going to be.”
Does the Bench Decision Signal a Bigger Shift?
Benching a $212 million quarterback could have long-term implications for the Dolphins’ roster and strategy. Releasing Tua outright could create substantial dead cap concerns, while retaining him as a backup seems complicated as well.
