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The Miami Dolphins’ playoff hopes officially ended with Monday night’s loss Pittsburgh Steelers.
The Dolphins failed to overcome an 0-3 start to the regular season, and now it will have been more than a quarter century since the franchise last celebrated a postseason victory. Shortly after the 28-15 loss to the Steelers, Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel hinted at the possibility that a major quarterback change could be on the horizon.
While McDaniel initially cautioned that he hoped to avoid making a “short-sighted” quarterback decision when asked if he would consider benching Tua Tagovailoa, he later admitted that “everything is on the table” amid the quarterback’s uneven season.
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Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel and quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (1) stand on the sideline against the New England Patriots in the second quarter at Hard Rock Stadium on September 14, 2025 in Miami Gardens, Fla. (Sam Navarro/Imagn Images)
Tagovailoa finished Monday’s game with 253 passing yards, two touchdowns and one interception. While the leader’s 2023 NFL passing yards leader’s final numbers looked adequate, Tagovailoa had just 65 yards and threw one interception through the game’s first three quarters. He has already thrown a career-high 15 interceptions this season.
Tagovailoa’s pair of touchdown throws didn’t get on the board until the final quarter of the game.
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McDaniel pointed to Tagovailoa’s slow start.
“I think the quarterback play last night wasn’t good enough, and so for me everything is on the table,” he said.
McDaniel also acknowledged the lack of production in Miami’s passing attack over the last few weeks. The embattled fourth-year head coach said the Dolphins’ passing game “hurt” the team in Monday’s loss.
Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (1) talks with head coach Mike McDaniel during training camp at Baptist Health Training Complex on July 28, 2024 in Miami Gardens, Fla. (Sam Navarro/USA Today Sports)
Tagovailoa took the blame and said he needed to perform at a higher level.
“First of all, I’ve got to play better. I’ve got to be better for our guys offensively,” he said Monday. “Two, I’m pretty disappointed with how clear I got our receivers in terms of operations, in terms of guys knowing where to line up and communication when it comes to personnel.
“It’s something I talk to guys about when we’re at our own player-led meetings,” he continued. “And I felt like I let our guys down in that aspect.”
Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa looks to pass in the first half against the Atlanta Falcons Oct. 26, 2025 in Atlanta. (Mike Stewart/AP Photo)
While a decision on Tagovailoa’s short-term future could come from McDaniel as soon as Wednesday, the franchise is financially tied to the veteran signal-caller long-term. Tagovailoa agreed to a four-year, $212.1 million contract extension through 2024.
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Zach Wilson, the No. 2 pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, and rookie Quinn Ewers are the two quarterbacks listed behind Tagovailoa on the Dolphins’ depth chart.
The Dolphins fell to 6-8 on Monday. The Cincinnati Bengals travel to South Florida later this week for a Week 16 matchup with the Dolphins.
