Tua Tagovailoa was “misguided” says Dophins coach Mike McDaniel
The Miami Dolphins are now 1-5 after Sunday’s loss to the Los Angeles Chargers and signs of locker room tensions are starting to emerge.
Things are not getting easier for fans of the Miami Dolphins. Having failed to make the playoffs in 2024 there were real hopes of progression this season but a bleak 1-5 start to the new campaign has pushed the franchise into a tough spot.
Speaking after Sunday’s loss to the Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Tua Tagovailoa launched into a long critique of the team, saying: “I think it starts with the leadership."
He continued: “We have guys showing up to player-only meetings late, guys not showing up to player-only meetings. There’s a lot that goes into that. Do we have to make this mandatory? Do we not have to make this mandatory?"
On Monday head coach Mike McDaniel appeared in front of reporters to answer questions on his QB’s comments. McDaniel described Tagovailoa as “misguided” and insisted that the postgame news conference was “not the forum” for that sort of conversation.
Mike McDaniel responds to Tua's postgame comments. He says "after a loss as the franchise quarterback that's not the forum to displace that. I think he knows that now. I do honestly believe there was no ill-intention."
— Mike Cugno (@MikeCugnoCBS4) October 13, 2025
He says Tua had directly communicated with teammates last… pic.twitter.com/slIiAm4VAY
McDaniel said: “I think regardless of intent and what was on Tua’s mind after a loss, as the franchise quarterback that’s not the forum to displace that - I think he knows that. Now, I do honestly believe there was no ill intention, but you’re talking about, I think, a misguided representation of player-orchestrated film sessions.
“The bottom line is no one’s going to be happy and always are looking for reasons for failure to succeed. So you’re trying to look for reasons that you can attribute to losses and heavy is the crown of being a franchise quarterback.”
McDaniel added that Tagovailoa had “directly communicated” with his teammates since his Sunday comments. However he pushed back on the claims that player timekeeping and attendance had been an issue this season. Nevertheless a run of five defeats from six games has piled the pressure on McDaniel, now in his fourth season with the team.
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