From Honolulu to Madrid: Marcus Mariota and Tua Tagovailoa’s historic NFL showdown

When the Miami Dolphins and Washington Commanders kick off Sunday at Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, the NFL will mark a historic first, its debut regular-season game in Spain. But for the two players under center, the matchup carries a meaning far deeper than global expansion.

Mariota mentored Tua in Hawaii - now they’ll face each other in Spain

Tua Tagovailoa and Marcus Mariota, both born and raised in Honolulu and both products of Saint Louis School, will face each other for the first time as starting NFL quarterbacks. It’s a moment years in the making, and one that connects Hawaii’s proud football tradition with the league’s international ambitions.

Mariota spoke back in 2018 about his younger peer, whom he mentored back at the Saint Louis School:

“Tua is a stud. He’s the next guy coming up. Proud of him,” Mariota said. “From where that kid’s come, how he’s grown and how he handled the situation... He’s very special.”

Tagovailoa also had positive things to say about Mariota:

“I looked up to Marcus when I was in high school... I was a big fan of him, still am, just of the person he is, outside of the player," he said. “Happy for his success.”

The two quarterbacks share nearly parallel journeys. Each won state titles at Saint Louis, earned the Hawaii Gatorade Player of the Year, and became first-round draft picks, Mariota going No. 2 overall in 2015, Tagovailoa No. 5 in 2020. According to NFL Research, they’re the only duo from the same high school to both be drafted in the top five since Peyton and Eli Manning.

Tagovailoa, 27, is in his sixth NFL season and fighting to keep the Dolphins’ playoff hopes alive after a rocky start. Mariota, 32, is trying to revive his career in Washington after taking over for Daniels last month.

As the NFL continues its push into international markets, this matchup between two Polynesian quarterbacks weaves culture, legacy, and sport into one place. The Dolphins, meanwhile, bring their eighth overseas game in franchise history, second only to the Jacksonville Jaguars in that regard. The Commanders, on the other hand, seek their first win in international play after a previous tie overseas.

The game kicks off Sunday from the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid, Spain at 9:30 a.m. ET/3:30 p.m. local time.

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