Dolphins Face Quarterback Crossroads as New Regime Takes Over
The Miami Dolphins were supposed to have their quarterback situation locked down. After all, they handed Tua Tagovailoa a $212.4 million extension in 2024, signaling their belief in the former Alabama standout as the face of the franchise. But fast forward to the end of the 2025 season, and the picture looks a lot murkier.
Tagovailoa was benched with three games left in the season, and now Miami has a new general manager, Jon-Eric Sullivan, and a new head coach, Jeff Hafley - both tasked with figuring out whether Tua is still part of the plan, or if it’s time to pivot.
Sullivan, speaking in his introductory press conference, made it clear he respects Tagovailoa but wasn’t ready to commit to any direction just yet. It’s early days, and the new front office is still evaluating everything - including the quarterback position.
Hafley, who joined the Dolphins after serving as the defensive coordinator in Green Bay, echoed that sentiment during an appearance on The Rich Eisen Show. When asked directly about the quarterback situation, Hafley didn’t dodge the question - but he also didn’t offer any clarity.
“That’s a fair question,” Hafley said. “And it’s one Jon-Eric and I talked about throughout the meetings... There’ll be guys on this roster who compete and there’ll be guys that we’ll go out and get that will compete.”
Translation: the Dolphins are likely headed toward an open quarterback competition in 2026.
Hafley was candid about where things stand - or don’t. “This is literally my first day full-time on the job,” he joked.
“I couldn’t even tell you where I am in the building right now or how to get back to my office.” That honesty might not provide answers, but it does show that this is a clean slate for Miami’s new leadership.
What Hafley did offer, however, was a glimpse into the offensive identity he wants to build - even though the team hasn’t hired an offensive coordinator yet.
“We got to be able to run the football,” he said. “And it has to start up front.”
Hafley laid out a vision that leans on physicality, structure, and adaptability. He talked about getting the quarterback under center, mixing in play-action, bootlegs, screens, and motion to create mismatches and keep defenses guessing. And as a former defensive play-caller, he knows what gives defenses headaches - layered route concepts, run-pass balance, and explosive plays.
“And then it’s really going to come down to the pieces that we have and what can we do best?” he said. “I’m also a believer that you got to get a guy who can take the players that he has and adapt the offense, certainly within your philosophy, put those guys in position to have success.”
That adaptability may be key. Hafley noted that if the quarterback can operate under center, great - but if not, the offense will need to adjust and lean more on shotgun looks. Either way, the run game is the foundation, and the passing attack will be built off that base.
And while Hafley didn’t name names, it’s clear that the Dolphins want a quarterback - whoever it is - who can help them push the ball downfield.
“As a defensive guy, I want someone that’s going to hunt explosives,” he said. “Because everything I do... is to eliminate explosives. And I think on offense, that’s how you score points.”
Now, back to Tagovailoa. The former No. 5 overall pick made the Pro Bowl in 2023 and has had stretches of high-level play.
But in 2025, the numbers told a different story. His production dipped across the board, and the interception total - 15, second-most in the NFL - stood out even more considering he didn’t play in the final three games.
The regression came at the worst possible time, and now Miami faces a financial and football dilemma.
Tagovailoa’s contract is structured in a way that forces the Dolphins’ hand soon. If he’s still on the roster two months from now, he’ll cost the team $57 million - including a fully guaranteed $54 million for the 2026 season. On top of that, $3 million of his 2027 salary becomes guaranteed if he’s still on the team three days after free agency begins in March.
If the Dolphins decide to move on before that deadline, they’re looking at a massive dead cap hit - $99.2 million, which would eat up nearly a third of their salary cap. There is a way to soften the blow: if they designate him as a post-June 1 release, they could spread the hit over two seasons - $67.4 million in 2026 and $31.8 million in 2027.
So here’s where things stand: a new GM, a new head coach, and a franchise quarterback whose future is anything but certain - all wrapped in one of the most financially complex decisions in the league.
The Dolphins have some serious soul-searching to do. They can stick with Tua and hope for a bounce-back, or they can hit reset - but at a potentially massive cost. Either way, the quarterback question is front and center in Miami’s offseason, and the clock is ticking.