Five things to know about new Dolphins starting QB Quinn Ewers

The Miami Dolphins pulled a stunning move on Wednesday. 

Miami head coach Mike McDaniel benched starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa in favor of rookie Quinn Ewers. The QB change comes after Tagovailoa went 6-8 in 14 starts and threw a league-leading 15 interceptions. He will now serve as QB3 behind Zach Wilson and Ewers.

Ewers — a seventh-round pick out of Texas — will make his first career start on Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals (4-10) in Miami. Here are five things you should know about the 22-year-old QB:

Quinn Ewers was one of the most hyped high school recruits ever

Coming out of Southlake Carroll High School in Southlake, Texas, 247 Sports gave Ewers a perfect rating (1.0000). He was one of five QBs since 2000 to be rated at 1.0000 or better. The others are Vince Young (former Texas/Tennessee Titans QB), Bryce Young (Carolina Panthers), Justin Fields (New York Jets) and Trevor Lawrence (Jacksonville Jaguars). 

"Elite QB prospect at the top of the 2022 cycle, at his position and across the board," wrote 247 Sports' Gabe Brooks in his scouting report in October 2020. "Future impact high-major starter with long-term potential to be taken high in the NFL Draft."   

Ewers struggled to live up to that rating throughout his college career, never winning a Heisman Trophy or a national championship. But he carved out a solid legacy at Texas, leading the Longhorns to College Football Playoff appearances in 2023 and 2024 and finishing third in program history in touchdown passes (68).

Quinn Ewers landed notable NIL deal before NFL career

Ewers has already made millions. In August 2021, former ESPN reporter Tom VanHaaren shared the QB signed a three-year, $1.4M NIL (name, image and likeness) deal with GT Sports Marketing. The contract was reportedly his third NIL deal before the start of his college career.

Ewers' NIL deals are one reason he flipped his commitment from Texas to Ohio State and skipped his senior year of high school in 2020. At the time, Texas prohibited high school athletes 17 and older from profiting off NIL deals. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signed a bill that changed that rule in June 2025.  

"Me and my family had a pretty big opportunity in front of us," Ewers said before a 28-14 loss to the Buckeyes in the 2025 Cotton Bowl. "We felt that it was a good opportunity to go on and forgo my senior year and enroll early at Ohio State and have the opportunity to have some good money in our pockets as a family." 

Ewers subsequently transferred from Ohio State back to Texas in December 2021, where he kept raking in dough. After the QB declared for the 2025 NFL Draft, 247 Sports' Chip Brown reported he had earned $6M in NIL deals in three seasons with the Longhorns. 

Quinn Ewers fended off Arch Manning for two seasons 

You can't mention Ewers without mentioning Manning, his much more famous backup. The Texas QB is the nephew of Super Bowl champions Peyton and Eli and grandson of 1971 No. 2 pick Archie.  

After Arch Manning arrived in Austin in 2023, many Longhorn fans wanted him to replace Ewers immediately. Except for a brief benching in a 30-15 home loss to Georgia in October 2024, the QB kept his job and delivered memorable moments along the way. 

In a 39-31 double overtime victory over Arizona State in the 2025 Peach Bowl, Ewers threw a 28-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Matthew Golden, saving the Longhorns from elimination. The QB, displaying composure despite Arch Manning hovering over his shoulder, impressed NFL scouts.