The Miami Dolphins have been facing a winter since 2000 when they last won a playoff game. For 24 years, under five different head coaches, the team has just been trying but apparently not bearing any fruits. However, the current QB, Tua Tagovailoa, might be the end of the longest drought in the NFL. Before his 4-year contract ends (it was extended to go through the 2028 season), Tua seems like he is working out to break the curse once and for all.
The four-year extension ($212.4 million) has been claimed to be the largest in the Dolphin’s franchise history. In fact, the annual value of the contract briefly put him third among the NFL’s highest-paid QBs. This was just behind Trevor Lawrence and Joe Burrow, and then Jordan Lee after his annual value was raised to $55 million per year.
What Are the Fans Saying?
For different fans, the thought of whether Tua is the answer to this curse or not, is not unanimous. For some, he is the answer, while for some he is not. If he has not done anything in the last four seasons, then what new is expected? It is even becoming harder for sports betting enthusiasts.
Betting companies are doing their due diligence to ensure that they are coming up with odds that suit the Dolphins. As of June 2025, Fox Sports shows +8000 odds of the Dolphins winning the Super Bowl, being ranked 22nd in the league. It is very clear that, different sportsbooks, and especially in Florida, are expectant of the upcoming season. If you are thinking about sport betting in Florida, you can view local information on the different platforms you can work with when the season is on.
By looking at odds (like the ones by Fox Sports), some fans are wondering whether the slump will ever end. Will Tua change the narrative, or does the team need to find another quarterback that could do the job?
How Has Tagovailoa Been Performing in the Past?
The start of Tagovailoa’s career was not all that remarkable, with the first two seasons being average (his draft mates got off on a more explosive start). In the 2020 and 2021 seasons, he completed 66.7% of his passes for 4,467 yards and 22 touchdowns against 15 interceptions.
However, since McDaniel became the head coach in 2022, his career literally blew. In the 2023 season, he was the top in passing yards, with a career-high of 4,624. His passes also improved, with 67.4% of them being completed. Actually, since he started working with McDaniels, Tagovailoa has the fourth-most passing yards in the NFL (8,172) and fifth-most (54) touchdowns. His pass completion rate is also the fifth in the league.
But with all these stats, why hasn’t the slump ended? What has Tua been doing wrong?
Tua’s Proneness to Injuries
In one interview, a fan said that if only Tua could keep himself healthy, then he could do a lot. Since the beginning of his career, 2023 was the only season that Tua played consistently for the whole of it. In the 2022 season, he suffered three concussions that saw him missing a couple of games. He had even, for a brief moment, considered retiring after having various discussions with his family members. Ultimately, Tagovailoa decided to bulk up and train in jiu-jitsu before the 2023 season started so that he could learn how to fall without hitting his head on the ground.
So far, Tua has suffered four documented concussions, and doctors claim that there is one that is yet to be determined. He missed four games during the 2024 season after suffering another scary concussion and the last two weeks of the season after a hip injury. However, he is back, healthy, and ready for the upcoming season.
According to ESPN, Tagovailoa’s accuracy and anticipation have been his strengths over time. However, he lacks the playmaking abilities that his peers, e.g. Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson have. But the Dolphins have been taking advantage of his strengths and do not seem like they will substitute those for his shortcomings.
Understanding His Current Form
It is interesting that Tua’s form has changed, and everyone can see it. In fact, during the Dolphin’s OTAs, he was seen wearing the orange jersey, an honor bestowed to the best-performing player during the previous practice. Head coach Mike McDaniel stated that for Tua to earn the jersey, he had shown resilience and good leadership skills in and out of practice.
Austin Jackson, the Dolphin’s right tackle, stated that Tua feels more confident and decisive, both on and off the field. Tua knows how to handle the team and brings them together for comradeship. Unlike his past self, Jackson claimed that Tua is now a “full-blown” leader who wants to take control of the team. He is no longer the quiet signal caller of the past seasons and has become the QB who guides teammates, takes charge and demonstrates ownership at every level.
Will the Curse Finally Be Broken?
Even though it is still early to determine, the capacity and development that Tua Tagovailoa is developing might be the change needed. Although some critics say that the Dolphins should just find another QB, the current offseason progress of Tua is an indication that the 2025 season might be different from the other ones. It seems like this is a new era and nothing can stop the Dolphins from achieving their dreams.
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