The ending of Tua Tagovailoa's 2025 season suggested he might be headed elsewhere in 2026.
Judging by how Tagovailoa responded to questions regarding his future on Monday, he might be for it.
"That would be dope," Tagovailoa said when asked if he was hoping for a fresh start, via the Palm Beach Post's Joe Schad. "I would be good with it."
A parting of ways has been on the table for a few weeks now, at least hypothetically.
The possibility originated from the fashion in which Tagovailoa handled his final start of 2025, a must-win contest against the Steelers in prime time during which Tagovailoa struggled tremendously and appeared unfit to handle the starting quarterback duties for the Dolphins. Not long after, head coach Mike McDaniel unceremoniously benched Tagovailoa in favor of seventh-round pick Quinn Ewers, a move many interpreted as a sign of the end of Tagovailoa's time in Miami.
Ewers' performances varied but carried little meaning for how the Dolphins might proceed with Tagovailoa, a quarterback they'd handed a four-year, $212.4 million extension prior to the start of the 2024 season. With rumblings of discontent between QB and coach, it seemed likely the two could not co-exist entering 2026.
It's not difficult to read between the lines here: McDaniel remains Miami's head coach, while Tagovailoa spent the day expressing a willingness to explore new avenues.
McDaniel later spoke with reporters on Monday afternoon and said that "my understanding is I'm the head coach of the Miami Dolphins until told otherwise." McDaniel added that he expects to be part of the search for a new general manager -- Miami parted parted ways with Chris Grier midseason -- but the hire will ultimately be up to team owner Stephen Ross.
McDaniel expects there will be a "competition" for next season's starting QB spot and did not rule out Ewers as an option. He also said he plans to meet with Tagovailoa on Tuesday morning to discuss the past season.
If a divorce is the eventual outcome, Miami can split from Tagovailoa without destroying its salary cap in 2026. If the Dolphins find a willing trade partner for him, they'll save $11.2 million in cap space via a pre-June 1 deal. If the trade occurred after June 1, they'd clear $43 million in space.
For now, Miami will go through exit interviews with players and staff and continue the search for a GM. The Dolphins' next personnel chief will arrive to a significant task -- deciding what to do with Tagovailoa -- atop their checklist.
