Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel regrets Tua Tagovailoa's comment

Barry Jackson, Miami Herald on Oct 13, 2025

Published in Football

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MIAMI — On Sunday, Miami Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel took no issue with Tua Tagovailoa saying publicly that some players were showing up late, or not showing up at all, to players-led meetings.

Tagovailoa’s comments created a firestorm of criticism among former players. And with the benefit of reflection, McDaniel agreed Monday that Tagovailoa should not have made those comments.

“Now that I’ve heard [Tagovailoa’s precise comments] — you guys caught me before I heard them — after a loss as a franchise quarterback, that’s not the place [to say] that,” McDaniel said Monday.

“He knows that now. I honestly believe there was no ill intention. You’re talking about a misrepresentation of player-orchestrated film sessions ... Heavy is the crown of being the franchise QB.”

McDaniel said Tagovailoa, in the aftermath of those comments, “has communicated with a lot of guys starting with last nigh t... There’s a real easy way to communicate with teammates. That was definitely on his plate last night and this morning. You live and you learn.”

McDaniel has said players have not been tardy to regular meetings involving coaches — something that was a problem last season.

McDaniel said Tagovailoa was referring to completely different meetings, weekly sessions in which the players on offense or defense (or specific position groups) get together, on their own, to watch film and discuss strategy and details about the upcoming opponents.

McDaniel said he was unaware of players not showing up, or coming late, to those player-led meetings.

Defensive linemen and defensive backs recently asked coaches to begin attending some of those player-led meetings, and the coaches obliged. That hasn’t happened among offensive players.

McDaniel, who was given a paraphrased version of Tagovailoa’s comments on Sunday, seemed supportive of those comments in his news conference after the game.

“It sounds like there was something on his mind with regard to the specific meetings with a couple individuals that he was trying to get corrected by direct communication,” McDaniel said Sunday, adding that “whomever he’s talking to will deliver.”

McDaniel job update

McDaniel’s job as the Dolphins’ head coach is likely safe for the immediate future, two national networks suggested Monday.

“From my understanding it would take something significant for the Miami Dolphins to move on from the head coach,” NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport said. “They just extended a head coach that Stephen Ross really likes. And believes in. The Dolphins want this to work. And believe it will work.”

ESPN’s Adam Schefter, mentioning McDaniel and other coaches on the hot seat, said “I don’t see head coaching move any time soon.” (The Tennessee Titans fired Brian Callahan soon after Schefter made that comment.)

A business associate of Ross said the owner entered this season committed to giving McDaniel and general manager Chris Grier another chance and doesn’t want to prematurely pull the plug without giving them a fair chance. But all of this is fluid.

The associate said Ross is also very fond of McDaniel and Grier personally, though it’s unclear how much that factors into Ross’ patience with both.

Grier, promoted to the job in 2016, is the fifth-longest tenured general manager in the NFL and has gone longer than any GM without a playoff win.

McDaniel has lost 17 of his last 26 games and is now below .500 (29-30) for the first time in his three-plus seasons in Dolphins history.

McDaniel said he and Ross, after the game, discussed “how to correct this ... The best thing is focus on Cleveland. That’s what we talked about. That’s the extent of it.”

News update

McDaniel said the 21-day practice window will not be opened this week for players on injured reserve who are now eligible to return. Those four players are Jason Sanders, James Daniels, Andrew Meyer and Austin Jackson.

McDaniel said he expects linebacker Tyrel Dodson to clear concussion protocol in “the next couple days.” McDaniel said his replacement, K.J. Britt, “played a phenomenal game.”

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