Sep 18, 2025; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel looks on before the game against the Buffalo Bills at Highmark Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images

Mike McDaniel was once one of Tua Tagovailoa's biggest fans. As someone firmly in his quarterback's corner, the quirky Miami Dolphins head coach was arguably the biggest reason Tagovailoa was able to enjoy a career resurgence after Brian Flores's disaster tenure. While the Dolphins never won anything of significance, these were days when McDaniel and Tagovailoa were on the same page while making sweet music together.

Those days, based on McDaniel's comments about the Dolphins' planned starting quarterback for a matchup with the Atlanta Falcons this Sunday, appear to be over.

As McDaniel contends with his scorching coaching hot seat, the Dolphins don't have any immediate plans to fire the embattled head coach. When they see what McDaniel said about keeping Tagovailoa as the starter (who is tied for the NFL lead in interceptions thrown with 10 picks) while throwing in a "joke" qualifier about hopefully not "throwing 10 picks," they, uh, might want to change their stance:

I can tell you with abject certainty that this is not the way you talk a player you still like in public. If it wasn't already very clear, McDaniel is tired of Tagovailoa and his flaws as a quarterback. In case it comes off like I'm defending Tagovailoa, I'm not. He's been awful as arguably the NFL's worst passer this year. However, I would also not be shocked to learn that the signal-caller is tired of his head coach, who has definitely lost control of the Dolphins locker room.

A serious organization would work fast to separate McDaniel and Tagavailoa, knowing their relationship is probably irreparably severed in a lost season for Miami. There's no real reason not to fire McDaniel right now. (Unfortunately for Miami, Tagovailoa probably has a different future with the franchise.)

Instead, the Dolphins will let this charade continue.

Well, you know what? At least it'll be amusing. I can't wait to see how, if at all, Tagovailoa responds to McDaniel's petty barb. This situation is the only remaining compelling part of the Dolphins' 2025 season. Here's hoping they maximize it for entertainment purposes.

This article originally appeared on For The Win: Mike McDaniel's petty Tua joke should be Dolphins' final straw

Reporting by Robert Zeglinski, For The Win / For The Win

USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect