Former Bama star quarterback Tua Tagovailoa released by Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are moving on from former Alabama star quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, who will have the interest of several other NFL teams.
FILE – Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (AP Photo/Jim Rassol)
Tagovailoa has been the team’s primary starter for the last 5 1/2 seasons but the Dolphins said today he will be released. The move comes less than two years after he signed a $212 million extension with the club. It will result in a $99 million dead cap hit, the largest in NFL history, yet the Dolphins evidently saw that as the best path forward.
Dolphins general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan says “I recently informed Tua and his representation that we are going to move in a new direction at the quarterback position.”
Miami will apparently be starting over at quarterback with Malik Willis, a former quarterback with Green Bay.
Tagovailoa was benched last season after throwing for 2,660 yards, 20 touchdowns and 15 interceptions across 14 regular-season appearances.
He is due $54 million guaranteed for 2026 and is eligible to sign with another NFL team after he’s officially released when the new NFL year begins on March 12.
The Dolphins selected Tagovailoa No. 5 overall in the 2020 NFL Draft and he showed promise early before a career-high turnover total last fall.
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