Marcel Louis-JacquesDec 16, 2025, 02:28 PM ETCloseMarcel Louis-Jacques joined ESPN in 2019 as a beat reporter covering the Buffalo Bills, before switching to the Miami Dolphins in 2021. The former Carolina Panthers beat writer for the Charlotte Observer won the APSE award for breaking news and the South Carolina Press Association award for enterprise writing in 2018.Follow on X
Mike McDaniel: ‘Everything is on the table’ at QB position (0:35)Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel discusses the state of the team’s quarterback position after Tua Tagovailoa’s performance vs. the Steelers. (0:35)
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel opened the door to a possible quarterback change Tuesday, saying “everything’s on the table,” after Tua Tagovailoa’s performance in Monday night’s loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The Dolphins (6-8) were eliminated from playoff contention Monday with the 28-15 loss at Pittsburgh, in which Tagovailoa completed just 6 of 10 passes for 65 yards and an interception through three quarters.
When asked after the game whether he was considering a quarterback change, McDaniel said he didn’t want to make a “rash” or “shortsighted” decision. His tone changed Tuesday.
“I think the quarterback play last night was not good enough, and so for me, everything’s on the table,” he said.
Tagovailoa finished 22-of-28 for 253 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. Both touchdowns came in the fourth quarter with the Dolphins trailing 28-3. Entering Monday’s game, he hadn’t thrown for more than 173 yards since Week 9.
McDaniel admitted the Dolphins’ passing offense, which ranks 31st in the league since Week 10, hasn’t been good enough and “hurt us” in the loss.
Tagovailoa on Monday took responsibility for his play, and for what he called a lack of preparation.
“That’s something I harp to guys when we’re in our own player-led meetings, and I felt like I let our guys down in that aspect.”
Miami signed former No. 2 overall pick Zach Wilson this offseason, but he hasn’t started a game since 2023. The Dolphins also drafted former Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers in the seventh round of this year’s draft. Ewers briefly served as the team’s backup quarterback for its Week 7 loss to the Cleveland Browns and briefly entered the game but has otherwise served as the Dolphins’ emergency quarterback this season.
Tagovailoa signed a four-year, $212.1 million extension in 2024 after he led the NFL in passing yards in 2023. However, he missed a career-high six games last season and while he’s been durable in 2025, he leads the league in interceptions with a career-high 15 in 14 games.
Mike McDaniel: ‘Everything is on the table’ at QB position (0:35)Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel discusses the state of the team’s quarterback position after Tua Tagovailoa’s performance vs. the Steelers. (0:35)
Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel discusses the state of the team’s quarterback position after Tua Tagovailoa’s performance vs. the Steelers. (0:35)
CloseMarcel Louis-Jacques joined ESPN in 2019 as a beat reporter covering the Buffalo Bills, before switching to the Miami Dolphins in 2021. The former Carolina Panthers beat writer for the Charlotte Observer won the APSE award for breaking news and the South Carolina Press Association award for enterprise writing in 2018.Follow on X
The Dolphins host the Cincinnati Bengals (4-10) on Sunday.