If not Tua, then who? Dolphins face defining quarterback decision for 2026
The Miami Dolphins seem to be ready to move on from quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, but what comes next?
The Miami Dolphins appear to be heading toward a major turning point at quarterback.
Multiple reports suggest the franchise has already decided that Tua Tagovailoa will not be the team’s starting quarterback in 2026, signaling the potential end of an era that once looked like the foundation of Miami’s long-term future.
🗣 Jeff Hafley on the conversations he's had with Tua Tagovailoa: "I had a good conversation with Tua... we talked about a lot of things, but ultimately this is going to come down to who we believe gives us the best chance to win." (@jimrome, h/t @DolphinsTalk) #PhinsUp pic.twitter.com/GK8BmQPTVU
— FinsXtra (@FinsXtra) February 1, 2026
Tagovailoa signed a massive four-year, $212 million contract extension with expectations of turning the Dolphins into consistent Super Bowl contenders. Instead, the 2025 season unraveled. Miami stumbled to a 7–10 record, missed the playoffs, and ownership responded by firing head coach Mike McDaniel, ushering in a new regime led by head coach Jeff Hafley. Now, that reset could include the most important position in sports.
Dolphins’ post-Tua plan: The QB options for Miami in 2026
Tagovailoa’s tenure in Miami has been defined by flashes of elite play, durability questions, and an offense that never fully delivered on its championship promise. While he helped fuel explosive passing attacks, the Dolphins failed to make a deep postseason run, and the 2025 collapse raised questions about whether the team’s ceiling had been reached.
With a new coach and front office, the Dolphins appear ready to hit the reset button rather than attempt another retool around Tagovailoa. If Tagovailoa is indeed on his way out, Miami’s next QB1 could come from several paths, none of them straightforward.
Free agency
The veteran market is not expected to be full of many options, but Miami could look for a bridge quarterback with experience in multiple systems. That route would signal a transitional year while the roster is rebuilt.
The draft
The Dolphins could attempt to find their next franchise quarterback through the 2026 NFL Draft, but that will depend on draft position and how aggressive the front office is willing to be in trading up.
Malik Willis
One name that has surfaced in speculation is Malik Willis, who spent time in Green Bay and flashed upside as Jordan Love’s backup. With Hafley and general manager Jon Eric Sullivan both coming from the Packers’ ecosystem, some league observers believe Miami could explore familiar personnel.
Willis is far from a sure thing, but his athleticism and arm talent fit the type of modern offense many teams are building.
A defining moment for the Dolphins
Moving on from Tagovailoa would mark one of the most significant organizational shifts for the Dolphins in years. He was drafted as the team’s long-term answer and paid like a franchise cornerstone. Walking away from that investment really shows just how dramatically the expectations have changed in Miami.
Whether the Dolphins pursue a veteran, draft a rookie, or take a gamble on an upside project, the decision will shape the team’s trajectory for the rest of the decade.
For now, the biggest question in South Florida isn’t just if the Tua era is ending, but who comes next.
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