Breaking news emerged during the heat of the NFL playoff race. Just 17 months after inking a four-year, 212.4 million dollar extension with Miami, Tua Tagavailoa has been relegated to being a benchwarmer. The decision came after a putrid Monday Night performance, where Tagovailoa had just 66 yards with 10 minutes left in the final quarter down three scores.
That poor play has unfortunately not been uncommon for Miami, and this year in particular has been a disaster. With Tua at the helm, the Fins are 6-8, with most of those wins coming against bottom feeders. Tagovailoa’s done little to elevate the team around him, and he currently leads the league in interceptions with 15.
The Dolphins benching their QB indicates a divorce will soon befall the two sides. Whether that be through a trade, or by simply releasing Tagovailoa, remains to be seen. What we do know however, is that he’ll soon be suiting up for another franchise. Here are some of his best and most likely fits.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Dec 15, 2025; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Payton Wilson (41) sacks Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (1) in the third quarter at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Barry Reeger-Imagn Images
While Rodgers was never meant to be the long-term answer for Pittsburgh, his respectable play will likely lead the Steelers to yet another playoff berth. As such, their draft pick won’t be anywhere near high enough to snag a top QB. This is where Tagovailoa comes into play. With Arthur Smith as his playcaller, Tua would benefit from the focus on the run-game. Additionally, he would fair well in the short passing attack with the multitude of big targets at his disposal. The tight-end trio of Pat Freiermuth, Jonnu Smith and Darnell Washington along with WR DK Metcalf could do some damage with Tagovailoa.
New York Jets
Sep 29, 2025; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (1) avoids the tackle from New York Jets defensive tackle Jay Tufele (78) during the second half at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rich Storry-Imagn Images
It’d be an ironic twist of fate for Tagovailoa to maintain his perfect record against the Jets by joining them. It makes sense, New York could benefit from an experienced bridge option like Tua. They’ll likely be selecting a signal-caller in the first round of the draft. Once they do, letting him develop on the bench while Tagovailoa’s veteran presence leads the offense wouldn’t be a bad move. The Jets feature a solid offensive-line, good weapons, and a developing culture. Tagovailoa would be the best QB on the Jets roster right now, so it’s not the worst of situations.
Las Vegas Raiders
Nov 19, 2023; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (1) attempts a pass against the Las Vegas Raiders during the second half at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-Imagn Images
The Raiders are in a similar situation to the Jets. They currently have the 2nd overall selection in the draft, and are most likely going to take a QB. Whether they do or not, Tagovailoa will still be getting some calls from the Raiders FO. In all honesty, this wouldn’t be an ideal situation for either side. Tagovailoa would likely crumble behind this Raiders protection, especially with the lack of receiving production (other than Brock Bowers). Despite all this, this pairing shouldn’t surprise anyone if it happens. The Raiders are desperate, and will take anything they can get. Hopefully for their sakes, it’s better than Geno Smith.
Indianapolis Colts
Sep 7, 2025; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (1) throws during the first quarter against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images
Indianapolis is a dark horse landing spot for Tua. Daniel Jones and Tagovailoa have more similarities than one might notice at first. Both struggled for most of their careers, with one great season standing out that earned them a big deal. Following that big deal, they failed to live up to their expectations and were eventually cast off. Whether Jones retains his position in Indiana after this season is unclear. However, if there are long-term issues with his health, the Colts could take a stab at rehabilitating Tagovailoa. While he doesn’t have the same rushing upside as Jones, he’s proven before he can execute at a high level when given time to throw.
