Chris Perkins: It would be crazy for Dolphins to bring back Tua

Chris Perkins, South Florida Sun-Sentinel on Feb 6, 2026

Published in Football

By clicking submit, I authorize Arcamax and its affiliates to: (1) use, sell, and share my information for marketing purposes, including cross-context behavioral advertising, as described in our Privacy Policy , (2) add to information that I provide with other information like interests inferred from web page views, or data lawfully obtained from data brokers, such as past purchase or location data, or publicly available data, (3) contact me or enable others to contact me by email or other means with offers for different types of goods and services, and (4) retain my information while I am engaging with marketing messages that I receive and for a reasonable amount of time thereafter. I understand I can opt out at any time through an email that I receive, or by clicking here

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Tua Tagovailoa shouldn’t return to the Miami Dolphins in 2026.

The Dolphins have been noncommittal about the embattled quarterback returning.

Miami’s new regime of general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan and coach Jeff Hafley, along with offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik, have been complimentary of Tua, the 2023 Pro Bowl selection and the man many thought would lead this franchise back to its glory days.

But, simply put, it’d be absolutely crazy for the Dolphins to bring back Tua.

A large part of the Dolphins’ recent changes is breaking from the past. Ex-general manager Chris Grier, ex-coach Mike McDaniel and Tua represent the past more than any others.

On top of that, you know what comes along with Tua.

The lack of mobility. The injury risk. And he most likely won’t have speedy wide receiver Tyreek Hill. All of those factors spelled doom for Tua last season.

There’s a chance none of that changes this season. We would have to wait and see if Tua’s loss of confidence and loss of accuracy get straightened out.

Of course, there’s also a chance that Tua returns in 2026 and passes for 3,000 yards and has a 100 passer rating.

But this isn’t about stats.

You’d still have the above issues as well as the major issue of Tua’s inability to perform against playoff-caliber teams. You know the numbers. In the 2023-24 seasons, the years the Dolphins should have made playoff runs, Tua was 2-10 against playoff teams with 15 touchdowns and 14 interceptions. Further, he didn’t make his teammates better. Neither Tyreek nor fellow wide receiver Jaylen Waddle had a 100-yard game against a playoff team in that two-year, 12-game stretch.

Tua’s inability to perform against the league’s top teams is a major drawback. It’s limiting.

There was plenty of blame to go around for those shortcomings in the Grier-McDaniel era, so I don’t want to heap that solely on Tua’s shoulders. But he’s the quarterback. It’s his job to lead the team over such humps.

Also, Tua’s history is that he excels when surrounded by outstanding talent, and if he’s not surrounded by outstanding talent, he’ll struggle. That’s what happened when he got benched late last season.

Mind you, none of this is personal. Not at all. Don’t take it that way. You’ll recall I’m the one who claimed the Dolphins could have won a Super Bowl with Tua if the team hadn’t failed him (poor roster construction, not enough physicality, poor strategy/philosophy, etc.). I stand by that statement.

The Dolphins must part ways with Tua for business reasons. The last regime failed and things must be done differently, with special emphasis at the top with Grier, McDaniel and Tua.

The 2026 Miami Dolphins need a new start.

More importantly, Sullivan and Hafley need a new start.

Obviously, Tua’s salary constraints are huge due to that ill-advised four-year, $212 million contract extension he was given after the 2023 season. Regardless, the Dolphins should release Tua, designate him a post-June 1 cut, and absorb $67 million of dead money this season and $32 million of dead money next season.

However, this isn’t about money.

Well, at this point it’s kinda about money. That’s why the Dolphins keep speaking positively about Tua. They’re hoping to keep his trade value high.

You heard Slowik say Tua can “absolutely” turn it around next season. And he can. But without Tyreek, I wouldn’t count on it.

Tua doesn’t represent hope. Tua represents broken dreams. So did Grier and McDaniel. That’s why this isn’t about money.

This is about new beginnings.

I respect Hafley for saying the only thing he’s talked to Tua about at this point is personal stuff — family, etc.

He also said the Dolphins are considering all options for next year’s starting quarterback: Is he currently on the roster? Do they find him in free agency? In the draft? It sounds as though they’re doing their due diligence, which is a good thing.

But here’s my bottom line: Tua’s gotta go. The Dolphins must part with the past and that entire way of thinking.

Tua can’t stay as a backup because he’d be a distraction.

Tua did the best he could for the Dolphins.

But it’s time to finally move on.