The recent drama unfolding within the NFL world is a captivating story centered on Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and former head coach Brian Flores. Their tense relationship has become a focal point, especially following Tagovailoa's candid criticism of Flores.
Tagovailoa, drafted fifth overall by the Dolphins in the 2020 NFL Draft, has not shied away from voicing his struggles under Flores' leadership. Reflecting on his time with Flores, Tagovailoa let his feelings be known, stating, “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?”
Flores' Side of the Story
Brian Flores, now a linebackers coach with the Pittsburgh Steelers, acknowledged the impact of his actions and words on Tagovailoa. In a moment of introspection, Flores shared, “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?”
The rift between the two stems partly from whispers suggesting Flores preferred Justin Herbert, who was picked by the Los Angeles Chargers, over Tagovailoa during the 2020 NFL Draft. Despite this, Dolphins GM Chris Grier made the executive decision to draft Tagovailoa. Tagovailoa’s initial NFL exposure came in a Week 6 matchup against the New York Jets in the 2020 season, and by Week 8, he started against the Los Angeles Rams.
Transition Under McDaniel
The relationship between Tagovailoa and Flores deteriorated further with Flores substituting Ryan Fitzpatrick for Tagovailoa during critical moments in the 2020 season, including the fourth quarter of a Week 11 game against the Denver Broncos and again in Week 16 against the Las Vegas Raiders. Following a 9-8 season in 2021, and amid reports of the Dolphins’ interest in trading for Deshaun Watson, Flores’ tenure came to an end in January 2022.
Mike McDaniel took the reins as the new head coach of the Miami Dolphins, and under his guidance, Tagovailoa flourished. McDaniel's support seems to have been instrumental to Tagovailoa’s resurgence. “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?”
Tagovailoa responded well to this new environment, leading the NFL in passer rating in 2022 and passing yards in 2023. He also celebrated his first Pro Bowl nod, a testament to his improved performance and renewed confidence. Reflecting on the changes, Tagovailoa commented, “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.”
Support and Validation
For Tagovailoa, support from the head coach has been a significant factor. He emphasized the importance of having backing within such a competitive environment, stating, “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.”
As the 2023 season unfolds, the relationship dynamics between players and coaches and the effects of managerial decisions continue to shape the narrative in Miami. Tagovailoa's story underlines the impact of leadership and environment on player performance in the high-stakes world of professional football.