There’s a major overhaul underway in Florida, as the Miami Dolphins not only fired head coach Mike McDaniel after last season, but they also showed quarterback Tua Tagovailoa the door. General manager Jon-Eric Sullivan, with the team coming off a disappointing season, made the call to go in a new direction under center.
His comments about Tagovailoa, however, weren’t well-received by everyone.
Ross Tucker Slams Miami Dolphins GM Jon-Eric Sullivan for ‘Disrespect’ Toward Tua Tagovailoa
Contrary to the mainstream narrative, Tagovailoa has a winning record in Miami. He spent six years in the city, winning more often than not, and was even included in the top 10 MVP candidates in 2022.
However, his losing streak over the last two years spelled the end of his run with the franchise. Sullivan released a statement on the latest developments, noting his respect for the quarterback.
Former NFL offensive lineman Ross Tucker, though, didn’t buy it.
“The Tua thing is interesting because I know [a respectful statement is] just one of those things that you put out there when a franchise player is no longer there,” he said on the “Ross Tucker Podcast.”
Tucker continued, “But Jon-Eric Sullivan released a statement, talking about how much respect he has for Tua as a person and as a player… No, not really. If you’re paying someone $54 million to play somewhere else, in this case Atlanta, you don’t have very much respect for him as a player, let’s be honest.”
“Dolphins GM Jon-Eric Sullivan released a statement talking about how much respect he has for Tua as a person AND as a player.”
“If you’re paying him $53 million to NOT play for you, you definitively do NOT respect him as a player…”@RossTuckerNFL reacts to the Dolphins… pic.twitter.com/RJ4Nuo70I4 — Ross Tucker Podcast (@RossTuckerPod) March 10, 2026
The story of the Dolphins over the last half-decade is a strange one, as the team often fell short of its playoff goals despite boasting solid pieces across the board (73.1 PFSN Offense Impact score in 2025).
The failure of the last few years was particularly curious given how the offense featured star receivers in Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, in addition to superstar running back De’Von Achane.
Moreover, even when they did make it to the playoffs, they never got past the Wild Card Round. McDaniel’s schemes made for some exciting offense, but they never produced in a way the franchise needed, and it all concluded with him and Tagovailoa packing their bags.
Now the quarterback will ply his trade with the Atlanta Falcons, who moved on from Kirk Cousins and are looking to add competition for Michael Penix Jr. as he recovers from a torn ACL. The franchise, like the Dolphins, is moving in a new direction at quarterback and head coach, as Raheem Morris was also fired after the 2025 season.
It’ll be interesting to see whether Tagovailoa can resurrect his career in Georgia.
