Retired wide receiver Keyshawn Johnson believes that quarterback Tua Tagovailoa’s stint with the Miami Dolphins might be coming to an end. After a disappointing 2025 season, there is uncertainty regarding his future.
On Friday’s episode of Jordan Schultz’s podcast, the Super Bowl XXXVII champion said that Tagovailoa still has a chance at redemption. However, he needs the right coach and team to help guide him out of this hole.
“The guy, if he can stay healthy, and he finds the right coach in the right system, is Tua,” Johnson said. “Because he’s done it at high level at Alabama. I’ve seen the Miami Dolphins winning when he’s healthy. And I’ve seen the Miami Dolphins without him.
“And that tells me if he got the right coach in the right situation that understands the player, you can work miracles with him. I don’t need him to carry the team. I just need him to drive the bus and not sideswipe cars. And if he can do that, he’s a guy I think in the right situation, he gets out to places you’re trying to go.”
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The Dolphins drafted Tua Tagovailoa with the fifth overall pick in the 2020 NFL draft. However, in just six years, he’s suffered multiple concussions, raising concerns about his longevity in the league. Despite this, the team decided to give him a four-year, $212.4 million extension in 2024.
During that season, Tagovailoa suffered his third concussion in two years, which sidelined him for a couple of games. The Dolphins missed the playoffs and finished second in the AFC East with an 8-9 record.
This season, they once again failed to make the postseason after a 7-10 campaign, finishing third in the AFC East. Tagovailoa played in 14 games and recorded 2,660 yards and 20 TDs passing with 15 interceptions and 30 sacks. He was then benched in favor of rookie Quinn Ewers for the last four games.
Last month, the Dolphins decided to fire coach Mike McDaniel after four seasons. They named ex-Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Halfey as his replacement.
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Dolphins GM gets honest about Tua Tagovailoa’s future with the franchise
On Thursday, Dolphins GM Jon-Eric Sullivan shared his thoughts on the team’s quarterback situation involving Tua Tagovailoa.
He said that they plan on acquiring a quarterback at this year’s draft. However, they have not yet finalized whether they plan on retaining Tagovailoa after his disappointing 2025 season.
“Of course, we’ll be looking at other quarterbacks in the draft,” Sullivan said as per PFT. “But look, Tua was in my officec the other day, if I’m being perfectly frank. We had a great conversation. Tua has been a very good player in this league. He’s done a lot of really good things for the Miami Dolphins You guys should be proud to have him and having had him.
“I don’t know what the future holds right now, and I told Tua that. We’re working through some things. What I can tell you is that we are going to infuse competition into that room, whether Tua is part of the room, whether he’s not part of the room. … We’re getting close to a decision. And when we do, we’ll let Tua know whether he’s gonna be a part of this or not.”
In six seasons, Tua Tagovailoa played in 78 total games and has recorded 18,166 yards and 120 TDs passing for the Dolphins.
