1 of 6 | Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel (C) said he will make a decision on whether to bench quarterback Tua Tagovailoa by Wednesday. Photo by Tannen Maury/EPA
The Miami Dolphins will consider benching starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, coach Mike McDaniel said Tuesday.
Tagovailoa led the Dolphins to a 6-8 record through his first 14 starts this season. Zach Wilson and Quinn Ewers are the other quarterbacks on the Dolphins’ roster.
Tagovailoa completed 22 of 28 passes for 253 yards, two scores and an interception in a 28-15 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday in Pittsburgh. He completed 67.7% of his throws for 2,660 yards, 20 scores and an NFL-leading 15 interceptions through 15 weeks.
“I think the quarterback play last night was not good enough,” McDaniel told reporters at the Baptist Health Training Complex in Miami Gardens, Fla. “So, for me, everything is on the table.”
McDaniel said the Dolphins are planning for their Week 16 matchup with the Cincinnati Bengals. The coaching staff will attempt to determine which quarterback gives them the best chance to win during that process. McDaniel said he expects to make a decision by Wednesday.
Tagovailoa, who led the NFL in passer rating in 2022, passing yards in 2023 and completion percentage in 2024, signed a four-year, $212.4 million contract extension with the Dolphins in July. He has a base salary of $25 million this season. His base salary will jump to $39 million in 2026.
McDaniel declined to say if team owner Stephen Ross approved a potential Tagovailoa benching or if such a move would impact his own job status. The fourth-year head coach, who signed a contract extension in 2024, have and overall 34-31 regular season record.
The Dolphins’ coach also declined to say if Miami would move on from Tagovailoa this off-season.
“The bottom line is we have to have a certain standard at each position,” McDaniel said. “All positions are the same. There is no one entitled to preferential treatment. “When there is a better option, it’s my job to attack that.”
The Dolphins (6-8) were eliminated from playoff contention through Monday’s loss, which ended a four-game winning streak. They totaled the eighth-fewest yards so far this season.
Miami, which had the NFL’s top offense and passing game just two seasons ago, have the seventh-worst passing attack in 2025.
The Dolphins will host the Bengals (4-10) at 1 p.m. EST Sunday in Miami Gardens.
Most iconic Super Bowl moments
John Elway’s first Super Bowl win, 1998Denver Broncos quarterback John Elway lifts the Vince Lombardi Trophy after defeating the Green Bay Packers in Super Bowl XXXII at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego on January 25, 1998. The win marked Elway’s first Super Bowl title and included his famed “helicopter” run, one of the signature plays of his Hall of Fame career. Photo by Mickey Pfleger/UPI | License Photo
