MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — The Miami Dolphins are benching starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa following a 28-15 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday night that eliminated the team from playoff contention.
The Dolphins will turn to rookie quarterback Quinn Ewers, a seventh-round pick in the 2025 NFL draft, ESPN’s Adam Schefter confirmed Wedneday.
Tagovailoa has struggled this season, leading the NFL with 15 interceptions, a career high. He threw two touchdown passes to tight end Darren Waller on Monday night but both scores came with the game already in hand for Pittsburgh. He also took four sacks in the loss, including one from former teammate, defensive back Jalen Ramsey.
It’s tough timing for the Dolphins after the 27-year-old signed a 4-year, $212.4 million contract extension with the Miami Dolphins back in July 2024, securing him through the 2028 season, with roughly $167 million guaranteed.
While speaking to reporters on Tuesday, McDaniel said “everything is on the table” when it came to making a change at quarterback and that the team “need(ed) to have better play at that position.”
Tagovailoa is 44-31 as a starter and ranks second among Dolphins quarterbacks with at least 1,500 pass attempts in winning percentage, ahead of Dan Marino. However, he is 0-5 in games played in temperatures below 40 degrees and lost his only playoff start during his six seasons with Miami.
Miami drafted the Alabama product with the fifth overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft after decided to pass up on quarterback Justin Herbert, who was taken by the Los Angeles Chargers with the very next pick.
Tagovailoa carries a $56.4 million cap hit in 2026. Still, this move could mark the beginning of the end of the Tagovailoa era in Miami.
Ewers will now make his first start on Sunday when the Dolphins (6-8) host the Cincinnatti Bengals (4-10).
Ewers was the backup quarterback during the team’s Week 7 loss to the Cleveland Browns and saw limited action in that game, but for the most part has served as the Dolphins’ emergency quarterback.
McDaniel is scheduled to speak to reporters about the move at 2:30 p.m.
