Tua Tagovailoa addresses talk of Dolphins benching him

The Miami Dolphins parted ways with general manager Chris Grier in the wake of the team's blowout loss to the Baltimore Ravens on Oct. 30, and there has been speculation Tua Tagovailoa could be the next to lose his job. It does not sound like the quarterback is all that concerned about that happening.

Tagovailoa told reporters on Wednesday that he understands he needs to play better, but he does not feel added pressure to perform well in order to remain Miami's starting QB.

"I wouldn’t say I’m playing to keep my job,” Tagovailoa said, via Alanis Thames of The Associated Press. “I think I’m playing to help our team win every time. I think that’s the objective for every quarterback that’s playing. For every football player that’s playing as well, the objective is ‘how can I help my team win games?’”

Tagovailoa added that he needs to play with more "conviction."

"The confidence is there, but it’s looking back at the film with the way that I’ve been playing prior and just (saying), ‘What was going on there?’ I just was in the flow state throughout that. And just trying to get back to that and figure that out again," the former Alabama star said.

Tua Tagovailoa is having his worst NFL season

Tagovailoa has a passer rating of 86.7 through nine games. That is his worst mark since he was a rookie in 2020, when his passer rating was 87.1. He has thrown 11 interceptions, which is tied for the most in the NFL with Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Geno Smith.

It looked like Tagovailoa might have finally figured things out when he led the Dolphins to a 34-10 road win over the Atlanta Falcons in Week 8. He completed 20-of-26 passes in that game for 205 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions.

That turned out to be more of a fluke compared to the rest of the 2025 season. Tagovailoa completed 25-of-40 passes for 261 yards, no touchdowns and an interception in the previously mentioned 28-6 loss to the Ravens on "Thursday Night Football."

Mike McDaniel is standing behind Tua Tagovailoa

Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel, who is also very much on the hot seat, defended Tagovailoa this week. He said the veteran still gives Miami "the best chance to win" and will start on Sunday at home against the Buffalo Bills.

The Dolphins are 2-7 heading into one of their toughest games of the year. McDaniel seems like he is on borrowed time with the franchise, and the same could be true for Tagovailoa.