There’s another massive change at the Miami Dolphins, as the team will reportedly release quarterback Tua Tagovailoa this offseason. Head coach Jeff Hafley, replacing Mike McDaniel, marked what seems to be only the beginning of a major overhaul at the Fins. Tagovailoa has become a staple of Miami’s offense since he joined the team, but his lack of success finally caught up with him.
How did the NFL world react to the news?
NFL Figures on Dolphins’ Move of Releasing Tua Tagovailoa
Tagovailoa led the Dolphins for six years under Brian Flores and then McDaniel. While he put up winning records as a starter in five of those years, it was never quite enough to launch Miami on a deep playoff run (72.2 PFSN QB Impact in 2025). It was a mix of narrow postseason misses and early playoff exits.
As a result, the front office decided McDaniel’s firing wasn’t enough to truly reset the franchise.
“Sources: The Dolphins are releasing QB Tua Tagovailoa with a post–June 1 designation,” Adam Schefter reported. “By cutting Tagovailoa, Miami will take on an NFL-record $99 million in dead money, split over two years.”
Sources: The Dolphins are releasing QB Tua Tagovailoa with a post–June 1 designation.
By cutting Tagovailoa, Miami will take on an NFL-record $99 million in dead money, split over two years, but new GM Jon-Eric Sullivan and HC Jeff Hafley now get a fresh start at the quarterback… pic.twitter.com/521FwOj0MR
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 9, 2026
Prominent NFL figures were quick to react to the news.
“Biggest mistake since D. Watson in Cleveland,” sports personality Carl Dukes tweeted. “99 Million Dollar cap hit.”
“As expected, Tagovailoa joins the free agent QB pool, and because he’s available for the league minimum like Kyler Murray, it dilutes the market for top QBs a bit,” Fox Sports’ Greg Auman noted.
When teams in search of a quarterback have options like Tagovailoa and Kyler Murray available for cheap, other high-value shot-callers’ price comes down. As the supply of top-end quarterbacks cheapens, the demand for expensive, quality players drops.
“Jets should have a new QB1 target but there will be competition,” New York Post’s Ryan Dunleavy said. “Tua has had more success in his 20s than most QBs to reach free agency.”
“If you consider Tua’s $56 million salary cap number as dead money when he is cut (which it effectively is), the Dolphins are carrying nearly $133 million in dead money into free agency,” PFSN’s Ben Rolfe noted. “Oh, and that number is potentially going to rise to close to $145 million on June 2.”
“Falcons a possible expected suitor,” insider John Frascella posted.
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix hasn’t been panning out like the franchise would’ve hoped. In two seasons with the team, he has recorded only 4 wins as a starter, leaving the brass wanting more.
“Tua Tagovailoa is someone the Jets have been looking into,” The Athletic’s Zack Rosenblatt posted.
“Dolphins will incur a $67.4 million cap hit in 2026 and $31.8 million in 2027 with Tua Tagovailoa post-June 1 release,” NFL Network’s Cameron Wolfe said. “Costly mistake on summer 2024 Tua contract extension. But now new regime can move on with next step toward rebuilding journey toward contention again.”
The Dolphins are desperate for improvement, and a franchise overhaul might just put them on the right track.
It’ll be interesting to see who the front office opts for to fill the $99 million gap in Miami.
