Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa addresses the media following training camp on Sunday, July 30, 2024, in Miami Gardens, Florida.
After months of stress for both the Miami Dolphins’ front office and Tua Tagovailoa, the two sides reached an agreement on a four-year, $212.4 million extension on Friday. This deal represents a perfect alignment: Tagovailoa achieved the long-sought financial security and full backing from the franchise, while the Dolphins secured their most effective quarterback since Dan Marino through the 2028 season.
Following the contract signing, Tagovailoa spoke to the media on Sunday, reflecting on how the agreement came together.
“Chris Grier and Mike McDaniel were knocking on the quarterback’s door. When they opened it, I saw Darrell Bevell and thought, ‘It’s too quiet—let me see what’s going on.’ They were peeking in, nodding without speaking, and I started to wonder if it was finally the moment,” Tagovailoa said with a smile.
“So I approached, and as I was about to turn the corner, I joked, ‘Let me grab my pen.’ Chris Grier extended his hand, and I asked, ‘Did we get it done?’ He replied, ‘Congratulations.’ I shook Chris’s hand, gave him a hug, and then hugged Mike as well. Mike gave me a really tight squeeze,” the quarterback recalled excitedly.
The warm embrace between McDaniel and Tagovailoa was fitting. Their strong relationship is notable, with McDaniel’s early and steadfast belief in Tagovailoa being particularly significant in the quarterback’s career.
Under McDaniel’s leadership, Tagovailoa has enjoyed the most successful seasons of his career, including leading the league in passing yards and securing a starting spot on the AFC Pro Bowl roster in 2023. Tagovailoa shared that McDaniel played a significant role in the contract negotiations, especially as they were finalizing the deal on Friday.
“Word travels fast… I’ve heard from several sources here at the facility, including upstairs, that Mike really advocated for me. The day I practiced 11-on-11s and 7-on-7s, before our short break, he went to bat for me with our owner. I won’t go into specifics about what was said, but he proved to be exactly what I hoped he would be,” Tagovailoa told reporters.
