Miami Dolphins starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is at risk of being benched following his disappointing performance on Monday Night Football. Head coach Mike McDaniel wouldn't rule out the possibility following the 28-15 primetime defeat to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 15, claiming "everything is on the table." The Dolphins should bench Tagovailoa for the remaining three games of the campaign.
Tagovailoa had completed just 6-of-10 passing attempts for 65 yards and an interception through three quarters. The majority of his production, including two touchdowns, occurred during garbage time in the fourth quarter. Tagovailoa is arguably experiencing the worst season of his career, with a 20:15 TD-to-INT ratio.
The Dolphins were officially eliminated from postseason contention following Monday's loss. They dropped to a directionless 6-8. There are serious questions about Tagovailoa's future in Miami after GM Chris Grier was fired earlier this season. If McDaniel retains his job, it feels like he'll be tasked with finding his next starting quarterback this coming offseason.
The Dolphins' passing game ranks 31st in the league since Week 10. Prior to his meaningless fourth-quarter production against the Steelers, Tagovailoa hadn't thrown for more than 173 yards since Week 9. The McDaniel-Tagovailoa partnership has officially gone stale.
McDaniel will make a decision about his starting quarterback on Wednesday afternoon. The Dolphins face the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 16. The alternative options are Zach Wilson and Quinn Ewers.
Wilson was the second overall choice during the 2021 NFL Draft. He joined the Dolphins this past offseason, but hasn't started an NFL game since 2023. Wilson played extensively for the New York Jets that year, completing 60.1% of his passes, throwing eight touchdowns and seven interceptions.
Ewers was once seen as a potential first-round pick. After an incredibly disappointing senior campaign at Texas, the Dolphins drafted him at 231st overall in the seventh round. Ewers has mostly served as the Dolphins' third emergency quarterback this season. In the preseason, he barely completed 50% of his passing attempts (53.5%) for 273 yards and two touchdowns.
The Dolphins signed Tagovailoa to a four-year, $212.1 million extension in 2024 after a career-best showing in 2023. However, he missed a career-high six games last season and has regressed in 2025. Tagovailoa leads the league in interceptions with a career-high 15 in 14 appearances.
Cutting Tagovailoa this offseason would be financially challenging. The first realistic exit route out of his 2024 extension arrives prior to 2027, two offseasons from now, where the Dolphins could absorb $34.8 million in dead money. If the Dolphins go in a different direction at quarterback this offseason, they'll essentially be making Tagovailoa an incredibly highly-paid backup quarterback in 2026.
The Dolphins should insert Wilson or Ewers at quarterback in Week 16. If nothing, they'll learn about their young quarterbacks while probably clinching a top-10 selection in the 2026 NFL Draft (they're currently No. 11 in the real-time draft order). The Tagovailoa-McDaniel era has run its course in Miami.