Tua Tagovailoa’s much-anticipated contract extension will solidify him as the Miami Dolphins’ franchise quarterback for years to come. The largest deal in the history of the franchise came at the end of a long negotiation process which loomed over the entire franchise as training camp began.
The decision shows the Dolphins believe Tagovailoa is the right player to quarterback this team through a championship window. This contract will also bring about higher expectations.
Tagovailoa is coming off a 2023 campaign where he led the league in passing yards and was an MVP candidate for most of the season. He helped bring Miami back into the playoff mix, but the next step for Tagovailoa and the Dolphins is winning big games in the regular season and in the playoffs. The last time Miami won a playoff game was a wild card matchup against the Colts back in 2000.
Tagovailoa is no stranger to high expectations as a top five pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.
“It’s a pretty hot place to be, quarterback of the National Football League,” Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel said Sunday. “One of the cool things about sports is that Tua can know that, his teammates know that, and they already have pressure and expectations for themselves. … So we focus on the way we play, understanding that we will always hear about the results regardless of what they are.”
Pressure and expectations are something to be expected when winning occurs. Money ups the stakes.
