After throwing multiple interceptions in the second half against the Cleveland Browns, Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel decided to bench Tua Tagovailoa in favor of rookie Quinn Ewers.
All of this came on the heels of a tumultuous week for Tagovalioa as he received backlash for comments he made about his teammates. All of those factors combined could be signaling the end of Tagovailoa’s time as QB1.
How Did Miami Dolphins Fans React to Tua Tagovalioa’s Benching?
Ewers took to the field after Tagovailoa threw interceptions on back-to-back offensive drives. Tagovailoa was 12 of 23 for 100 yards with no touchdowns and three interceptions before his benching.
A seventh-round pick out of Texas in the 2025 NFL Draft, Ewers was elevated over Zach Wilson into the Dolphins’ backup quarterback role prior to the Browns game.
While some could expect fan reactions to the Tagovailoa move to be mixed, most are actually happy about rookie QBs getting the nod over league veterans.
“TUA GOT BENCHED!!!! HAHAHAHAHA IT’S ACTUALLY SO OVER,” one NFL said on X.
TUA GOT BENCHED!!!! HAHAHAHAHA IT’S ACTUALLY SO OVER!!!!
— Mike D (@lordzack95) October 19, 2025
“Thank the lord Tua is … benched never wanna see him touch the field again,” another said.
As a result of Tagovailoa’s benching, Ewers took his first NFL snaps at quarterback in the fourth quarter in Cleveland.
This comes at a time when rookie signal callers are seeing more play throughout the league, with fellow rookie Jaxson Dart with the New York Giants being another example. He was recently given the nod as the starter over longtime veteran Russell Wilson.
“Tua benched for Quinn Ewers??? Yeah he’s gotta hang it up man,” one fan said.
Tua benched for Quinn Ewers??? Yeah he’s gotta hang it up man 💔💔
— Gavin Lux Enjoyer (@dinonugs248) October 19, 2025
“TUA BENCHED REMAINDER OF GAME FOR QUINN EWERS,” another fan posted while adding laughing emoticons.
Across 11 games played for Miami in 2024, Tagovailoa threw seven interceptions and was sacked 21 times.
“Thank god Tua benched,” said yet another NFL fan.
Thank god Tua benched
— T ⚜️ (@TeejDat) October 19, 2025
Tagovailoa is currently signed to a four-year, $212.4 million contract with Miami that features an average annual salary of around $53.1 million.
“Tua Turndaballover has been benched $54M a year, a week after calling his team mates out The ‘Bad Vibes’ Miami Dolphins are SO back,” one fan pointed out.
Tua Turndaballover has been benched
$54M a year, a week after calling his team mates out
The “Bad Vibes” Miami Dolphins are SO back
— Fletcher (@Duke0fLondon) October 19, 2025
Prior to being drafted, Ewers was a Maxwell Award semifinalist in addition to being named a Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award semifinalist.
“McDaniel is so weak. Benched Tua but pulls other starters out so it doesn’t look like a benching,” one fan said. Fire this dweeb.”
McDaniel is so weak. Benched Tua but pulls other starters out so it doesn’t look like a benching. Fire this dweeb.
— Mike Williams (@SelfMade0602) October 19, 2025
Miami finished the game against Cleveland with a final score of 31-6, for the Dolphins’ sixth loss of the year. The Browns improve to a 2-5 overall record.
