Tua Tagovailoa apologizes for comments, but it isn't enough

Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa apologizes for controversial comments, but it isn't enough

By Clark Dalton | Last updated Oct 15, 2025 9:11 PM ET

Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa wishes he had kept quiet following a Week 6 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers.

After throwing three interceptions in the 29-27 loss to the Chargers, Tagovailoa said certain players had been skipping player-led meetings. These comments created yet another controversy for the 1-5 Dolphins.

On Monday, Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel said the QB shouldn't have used a postgame news conference as a "forum" to air concerns about the team, and he has since apologized to teammates. Tagovailoa went public with his apology on Wednesday.

Tua Tagovailoa apologizes for airing out Dolphins' dirty laundry

"I've made a mistake, and I'm owning up to that right now," Tagovailoa said, via ESPN's Marcel Louis-Jacques. "I've talked to guys on the team about it. Talked to the leaders about it. They know the intent was right, but no matter the intent, the intent can be right, but when things get misconstrued or however the media wants to portray it, that leaves a void of silence and a lot of questions for the guys on our team."

Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa apologizes for his comments after Sunday’s game:

“I made a mistake … We talk a lot about ‘we gotta get this going,’ come in excited for work and forget about the noise — and I feel like I just added on to that for our guys.” pic.twitter.com/lmQsZY0vFU
— Marcel Louis-Jacques (@Marcel_LJ) October 15, 2025

The QB then explained that venting his frustrations after the loss to the Chargers added another distraction for his teammates.

"We talk a lot about 'we gotta get this going,' come in excited for work and forget about the noise," Tagovailoa said. "And I feel like I just added on that for our guys."

Tua Tagovailoa's apology won't turn around dysfunctional Dolphins

Tagovailoa admitting he shouldn't have publicly revealed issues within the team may do nothing. The Dolphins already have several problems, and the QB discussing them with the media exacerbates them.

McDaniel — who has a 9-14 record over his past 23 games — is reportedly on the hot seat for failing to keep the locker room under control. Following a 33-8 Week 1 loss to the Indianapolis Colts, Miami held a players-only meeting to address the issues. Clearly, that hasn't worked.

The Dolphins are now third in the AFC East behind the New England Patriots (4-2) and the Buffalo Bills (4-2) and on track to miss the playoffs for a second straight season.

Tagovailoa must have thought it was time to send a message to the team, but he did it in the wrong place, creating more drama. Apologizing can't change that. Nor can it save the struggling Dolphins, who are sinking deeper into the NFL's abyss.

Clark Dalton

Dalton is a 2022 journalism graduate of the University of Texas at Austin. He gained experience in sports media over the past seven years — from live broadcasting and creating short films to podcasting and producing. In college, he wrote for The Daily Texan. He loves sports and enjoys hiking, kayaking and camping.

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