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Often-Injured Tua Tagovailoa Has New Mindset Entering 2025

Originally posted on The Spun | By Andrew Gould | Last updated Jul 29, 2025 1:29 PM ET

Most of the Miami Dolphins' hopes hinge on Tua Tagovailoa staying healthy in 2025.

Returning from numerous head injuries that jeopardized his playing career, Tagovailoa led Miami to an 11-6 record with the NFL's top-ranked offense in 2023. Yet the Dolphins missed the playoffs after losing four of six games without him last season.

Tagovailoa suffered the third diagnosed concussion of his NFL career early in the 2024 campaign. Speaking to NFL Network during Saturday's training camp, the 27-year-old placed an added emphasis on doing what he can to stay on the field.

"It starts with me not putting myself in situations where I can't be available for this team, and it kind of goes from there," Tagovailoa said. "If I can stay healthy for our guys, I believe — and I believe the team believes — that I give us the best chance to potentially go do what we say we want to do."

Tagovailoa feels the Dolphins offense has withstood too many ebbs and flows, often determined by his availability. The Pro Bowler believes observers watch their success thinking, "Something's about to happen."

"Let's say I go down," he continued. "Or let's say something else happens with the team, and then the structure looks messed up. And it's like, now we can't do this. Now we can't do that. And so, I think it's just the consistency."

Last season, Miami scored a combined 46 points in four games that Tagovailoa missed with a concussion from Weeks 3 to 6. The unit rediscovered its 2023 form when winning four of five games behind 1,508 passing yards and 12 touchdowns from the former Alabama star, only to stumble down the stretch.

The Dolphins added the previously retired Darren Waller to a dynamic offense with a wide range of outcomes in 2025. Tagovailoa is determined to silence the skeptics with another healthy and productive season in South Beach.

"We hear the noise," Tagovailoa said. "We hear all of that, but it's OK. That's OK for everybody to have their opinion about it. Now what are we going to do about it?"

This article first appeared on The Spun and was syndicated with permission.

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