The Miami Dolphins’ season spiraled further into chaos after QB Tua Tagovailoa’s post-game remarks about absent teammates, drawing sharp rebukes from past NFL pros who believe his comments were a misstep in leadership and exposed internal turmoil.
The Miami Dolphins are in a full-blown crisis, and it extends far beyond their dismal 1-5 start to the season. Following another late-game collapse against the Los Angeles Chargers, quarterback Tua Tagovailoa stepped to the podium and, instead of focusing solely on on-field performance, publicly aired grievances about internal team issues. His candid remarks regarding players missing or being late to “players-only” meetings have ignited a firestorm, putting his leadership under an intense microscope and revealing a potentially fractured locker room. The reaction from former NFL players was swift and largely condemnatory, turning a difficult season into a full-blown cultural conundrum for Miami.
Tagovailoa’s comments came after the Dolphins squandered yet another late lead, falling to the Chargers 29-27. When asked about maintaining team morale, the quarterback shifted the discussion to underlying issues, stating:
“I think it starts with the leadership in helping articulate that for the guys and then what we’re expecting out of the guys. We’re expecting this. Are we getting that? Are we not getting that?
“We have guys showing up to player-only meetings late, guys not showing up to player-only meetings. There’s a lot that goes into that. Do we have to make this mandatory? Do we not have to make this mandatory? So it’s a lot of things of that nature that we got to get cleaned up. And it starts with the little things like that.”
These remarks, though perhaps intended to spark accountability, immediately backfired in the court of public opinion, particularly among those who have walked the path of an NFL locker room.
The Unanimous Verdict from Former NFL Players
The response from former NFL players was swift and overwhelmingly critical of Tagovailoa’s approach. Many viewed his public callout as a sign of failed leadership rather than an exercise in it, suggesting such matters should remain in-house. The sentiment was clear: a captain addresses team issues privately, not through the media.
Former All-Pro offensive lineman Andrew Whitworth succinctly captured the mood, stating, “Woof…. 🙈 That’s on you bud,” on X (formerly Twitter). His former colleague, Mitchell Schwartz, expanded on the criticism, writing, “Isn’t he just telling on himself? He is THE leader of the team and guys aren’t showing up to players only meetings. This has nothing to do with coaches, front office, etc. Players only meetings are governed by players. Very weird to talk about and admit.”
The chorus of disapproval continued with former quarterback Josh McCown offering advice to young signal-callers, “Young QBs this is NOT how it’s done. Don’t complain about how things need to change. Be where the change starts!”
Perhaps the most poignant criticism came from Devin McCourty, a former defensive back now an analyst for NBC, who referenced his time with Bill Belichick and Tom Brady: “I hated every bit of that. I played in New England with Bill Belichick and Tom Brady and Coach Belichick used to talk about, when you have true leadership, it doesn’t need to be talked about. So, if there’s a problem, Tua, you’re a captain of this team, you’re a quarterback. Go handle it. Don’t sit there in front of a camera and talk to media members about guys messing up. Get in the locker room, call those guys out by name. If confrontation happens, that happens sometimes, but I think to come and air out your dirty laundry and let everybody know that there’s a problem – we know there’s a problem, you’re not winning football games. Go fix it in-house. Handle it that way. I think that’s true leadership.”
Adding another layer to the concern, former Dolphin DaeSean Hamilton recalled his brief stint with the team, claiming Tua himself was late to a team meeting. This personal account, if true, further complicates the narrative of Tagovailoa’s current call for accountability.
A Question of Leadership: Accountability Under Scrutiny
At the heart of the criticism lies the fundamental question of Tagovailoa’s leadership style. As a team captain and franchise quarterback, the expectation is that he would address internal issues directly with his teammates, behind closed doors. The Dolphins, under coach Mike McDaniel, are intentionally a “player-led locker room,” which places even greater onus on team captains to manage internal dynamics. Publicly highlighting player absences at voluntary meetings, particularly without naming individuals, was perceived by many as a failure to lead effectively. As former Titans GM Ran Carthon put it, “Everything that you said postgame had to do with players… if players aren’t showing up to player-led meetings, that starts with you.”
Critics suggest that by making these comments, Tagovailoa not only threw his teammates under the bus but also inadvertently highlighted his own struggle to command respect or enforce accountability within the locker room. If players are indeed skipping these crucial “players-only” sessions, it speaks to a deeper lack of cohesion and mutual respect that Tagovailoa, as a leader, is expected to foster and address internally.
Coach McDaniel’s Damage Control and Teammate Silence
Head coach Mike McDaniel was left to navigate the fallout, stating that while Tagovailoa’s comments were “not ill-intentioned,” they “came at a bad time” and that the post-game press conference was “not the forum to display that.” McDaniel emphasized his own accountability for the team’s performance and confirmed that Tagovailoa had spoken with several teammates since Sunday evening. Despite this, the coach’s efforts to douse the flames seemed to contradict the clear message from the player’s comments. Left tackle Patrick Paul’s response to questions about the comments, “I try to keep those things out of the media… I don’t think we should be giving out all the details of that,” underscored the general sentiment that these matters should remain private, directly contrasting Tua’s actions.
The Broader Context: Miami’s Season of Collapse and Internal Strife
This internal drama unfolds against a backdrop of a truly disastrous season for the Miami Dolphins. Their 1-5 record is plagued by late-game collapses, with four losses where they held a chance to win in the fourth quarter but failed to deliver. Key injuries, including the significant knee injury to star receiver Tyreek Hill, have further compounded their struggles. Calls for the firings of McDaniel and general manager Chris Grier have been circulating since the season opener. Tua’s public comments only add fuel to this already blazing fire, creating more unwelcome drama for a team that can ill afford it.
Tua’s Past Encounters with Public Scrutiny
Interestingly, Tagovailoa’s public airing of grievances contrasts sharply with his own past stance on external criticism. Earlier in the season, Tua fiercely defended himself against comments from former NFL player Ryan Clark regarding his physique and work ethic. Clark eventually apologized for his “bad joke,” but Tagovailoa’s firm demand that Clark “keep his name out of his mouth” demonstrated a strong aversion to public critique. This history adds another layer to the current controversy, leading many to question why Tagovailoa, who previously insisted on respect and privacy regarding his personal and professional efforts, chose to publicize internal team issues rather than handling them directly with his teammates.
What Lies Ahead for the Dolphins?
With 11 games remaining in the 2025 season, the Miami Dolphins face a daunting challenge both on and off the field. The team’s immediate schedule includes matchups against the Cleveland Browns, Atlanta Falcons, Baltimore Ravens, Buffalo Bills, and Washington Commanders before their Week 12 bye. Beyond the scoreboard, the public exposure of locker room discord raises serious questions about team chemistry, trust, and ultimately, Tua Tagovailoa’s long-term viability as the team’s undisputed leader. If the results continue to stagnate, sweeping changes, from coaching to personnel, appear increasingly inevitable as the pressure mounts on every major party in Miami. The path back from this “muddy, murky mess” remains unclear, and fans are left to wonder who will survive the mad scramble.
