Tagovailoa’s Frustrations Spark Controversy After Dolphins’ Loss

Miami, Florida — Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa expressed his frustrations with his teammates after the team fell to 1-5 following a loss to the Los Angeles Chargers on October 12, 2025. Tagovailoa voiced concerns over players routinely arriving late or not attending team meetings, a situation he believes is affecting team morale and accountability.

His comments did not sit well with many in the football community, including his former coach at Alabama, Nick Saban. Saban expressed shock over Tagovailoa’s public remarks. “One of the things I always try to tell our players is you never criticize another player,” Saban said. “I was really shocked that Tua did what he did when he threw some guys under the bus.”

Tagovailoa criticized the team culture, saying, “Do we have to make this mandatory? Do we not have to make this mandatory? It starts with the little things like that.” His remarks sparked backlash from former players, coaches, and fans, prompting Tagovailoa to apologize days later.

During a press conference on October 17, Tagovailoa reflected on his comments. “As a leader of this team, I’ve made a mistake. I’ve talked to the guys on the team about it, and they know my heart,” he said. “What happens in-house should be protected, and none of that should have gotten out.”

Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel also weighed in, stating that the postgame news conference was not the appropriate forum for Tagovailoa’s frustrations. He recognized that Tagovailoa did not have any ill intentions but referred to the comments as a “misguided representation” of the situation.

Despite the criticism, Tagovailoa maintains a strong performance on the field, completing 69.8 percent of his passes with 1,213 yards, 11 touchdowns, and seven interceptions this season. He hopes to lead the Dolphins to a better outcome in their upcoming game against the Cleveland Browns.