Earlier this week, the Miami Dolphins’ Mike McDaniel and Tua Tagovailoa made headlines for their special coach-quarterback relationship. It was revealed that McDaniel — a first-year head coach — made it a point to build up Tagovailoa’s confidence from the get-go.
Such an approach has the Dolphins sitting pretty as the AFC’s current No. 2 seed. At the same time, a confident Tagovailoa is playing himself into the MVP conversation week by week. As the two get ready for Miami’s stretch run this season, a new video from Inside the NFL captured the essence of McDaniel and Tagovailoa’s dynamic mid-game in a 30-15 win against the Houston Texans.
It shows that while McDaniel might be the person who believes in the Dolphins’ franchise QB the most, he’s also the most uniquely qualified to just roast him:
“Bro, your technique was trash.”
Mike McDaniel didn’t hold back about @Tua’s high school highlights 😂 pic.twitter.com/cfiZcuYuz1
— Inside the NFL (@insidetheNFL) November 29, 2022
Absolutely hi-la-ri-ous.
In what has to be an entirely normal conversation about how things are going against an opponent, you gotta appreciate how seamlessly McDaniel transitions to discussing the high school version of Tagovailoa. And judging by Tagovailoa’s face as McDaniel works toward joking about his past technique, he knew it was coming. Just approximately three months into their first regular season together, you can tell McDaniel and Tagovailoa already have impeccable chemistry.
Miami’s dynamite head coach-quarterback duo will take all this goodwill into their first real test in months in San Francisco. The Dolphins, while scorching hot, haven’t beaten a team with a winning record since Week 3. Meanwhile, the 49ers haven’t allowed any points in a second half since mid-October. Something has to give, right?
Given their results thus far, along with the first-hand evidence of their casual interactions — I’m pretty confident McDaniel and Tagavailoa will be ready to overcome an elite defense together.
NFL fans couldn't get enough of McDaniel's blunt assessment of a younger Tagovailoa
Man this my favorite coach in the NFL https://t.co/PTAw1GMEpx
— Papi 🌎 (@IamPapi312) November 30, 2022
Nothing like having this kind of relationship w your coach! https://t.co/Q4RN6zzvCc
— Nate Tia (@OBM_CoachT1A408) November 30, 2022
I’m jealous. I want this on my team https://t.co/zsK6CpNf6c
— Td (@Td00392420) November 30, 2022
These 2 were made for each other. https://t.co/tY9bFHuopo
— JT🐬 (@JeffT32Phins) November 30, 2022
💪🏼 love it!🤣 player coach relationships are huge! https://t.co/j1CASeBxIv
— MW (@Matt1281982) November 29, 2022
The impact Mike McDaniel has had on this team, and Tua more specifically is beyond words. The dynamic is incredible. #FinsUp https://t.co/AsCax7dtGe
— Jaymin (@StamperSports) November 29, 2022
How close are Tua and McDaniel?
Dude woke up at 3am and his first thought was to YouTube his quarterback 🤣
Freaking love this guy. https://t.co/PlIwK8kpgJ— Saturn (@SaturnSilent) November 29, 2022
Mic them up every week bro https://t.co/zkfiDlQ9p2
— Evan Brown (@Brownie243496) November 30, 2022
My new favorite Mike McDaniel/Tua video 😂 https://t.co/bZ1VtSwjlh
— Jerry Chadavoine 🇭🇹 (@JerryChadavoine) November 29, 2022
I love these two men https://t.co/xGwZcfF7tM
— KL (@kbardo07) November 29, 2022
Gotta love these two. https://t.co/rXT4BcjPD6
— Andres Espinosa (@andres427_) November 29, 2022
Legit best friends🥹 https://t.co/ZZn9uFk4aO
— Craig Deraway (@DerawayC12) November 29, 2022
Solid content! https://t.co/Q2749HREnT
— Ken Barrett (@Bucs_Barrett) November 30, 2022
Not sure how you can’t love this coach https://t.co/2LTFtAWfFa
— Charles Milian (@CharlesMilian) November 30, 2022
