Quinn Ewers’ Unexpected Rise: From Third-String to Starting QB in Miami
No one saw it coming - not fans, not analysts, and not even Quinn Ewers himself. But by the end of the 2025 NFL season, the Miami Dolphins' starting quarterback wasn’t a former first-round pick or a seasoned vet. It was Ewers, a rookie and seventh-round draft pick who spent most of the year buried on the depth chart.
Ewers took over the reins for the final three games after the Dolphins benched Tua Tagovailoa, a former Pro Bowler. Zach Wilson, the team’s backup, didn’t get the nod either. Instead, it was Ewers - the third-stringer - who stepped in and made the most of a surprise opportunity.
A Sudden Turn of Events
“To be honest, no,” Ewers admitted when asked if he ever expected to start. “But I feel like I do a good job of just kind of rolling with the cards that are dealt.”
That mindset served him well when the call finally came. The Dolphins had just returned from a road game in Pittsburgh, landing around 4 a.m. on a Monday.
Ewers slept in and woke up to a message from his quarterbacks coach. The message?
Head coach Mike McDaniel was considering starting him that week against the Bengals.
Ewers dove into the playbook immediately, and it didn’t take long to spot a clue that confirmed the news. A particular rollout play - one that had previously been designed for Tagovailoa’s left-handed throwing motion - had been flipped to the right side. That was all the confirmation Ewers needed.
“When Mike told me, I was fired up for the opportunity,” he said.
Making the Most of It
Ewers went 1-2 in his three starts, but the record doesn’t tell the whole story. His lone win came against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers - a game that had serious playoff implications, as it helped knock Tampa out of postseason contention.
Statistically, he finished with three touchdowns, three interceptions, a 66.3% completion rate, and an 85.5 passer rating. Those numbers might not jump off the page, but for a rookie quarterback drafted in the seventh round - and one who wasn’t expected to play at all - they’re more than respectable. In fact, Ewers ranked third among rookie quarterbacks in passer rating, trailing only Jaxson Dart and Tyler Shough, both early-round picks.
What stood out wasn’t just the stats - it was the poise. Ewers didn’t look rattled.
He looked prepared. And he looked like he belonged.
A New Era in Miami
Ewers’ emergence comes at a time of transition for the Dolphins. The team parted ways with Mike McDaniel and brought in Jeff Hafley, the former Packers defensive coordinator, as the new head coach. That move signals a fresh start in Miami - and potentially a new quarterback competition heading into 2026.
For Ewers, it’s all part of the journey.
“Being a starting NFL quarterback was a dream for me ever since I was a little kid,” he said. “It’s the reason why a little kid picks up a football when he’s young. It was a dream come true.”
He knows how rare his path is - going from third string to starter in the span of a season is not how the NFL typically works. But when the opportunity came, he didn’t flinch.
“I feel like I took the opportunity, and I feel like I ran with it,” Ewers said. “The outcome, the results weren’t obviously what me and the team wanted. But I feel like I put a lot of good stuff on tape, and I feel like I did a good job and had the guys kind of rally behind me.”
That’s what matters most for a young quarterback trying to carve out a place in the league - earning the trust of the locker room and showing the coaching staff that you can lead a team. Ewers did that in a short window, and now, with a new head coach and a fresh slate in Miami, he’s positioned to compete for more than just a roster spot.
He’s already proven he can handle the moment. Now the question is: can he build on it?