.jpg) Tagovailoa with theMiami Dolphins in 2021 | |||||||||||||||||||
| No. 1 – Miami Dolphins | |||||||||||||||||||
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| Position | Quarterback | ||||||||||||||||||
| Roster status | Active | ||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||
| Born | (1998-03-02)March 2, 1998 (age 27) ʻEwa Beach, Hawaii, U.S. | ||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | ||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 225 lb (102 kg) | ||||||||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||||||||
| High school | Saint Louis (Honolulu, Hawaii) | ||||||||||||||||||
| College | Alabama (2017–2019) | ||||||||||||||||||
| NFL draft | 2020: 1st round, 5th overall pick | ||||||||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||||||||
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| Awards and highlights | |||||||||||||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics as of Week 9, 2025 | |||||||||||||||||||
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Tuanigamanuolepola Donny Tagovailoa[1] (/ˌtʌŋoʊvaɪˈloʊə/TUNG-oh-vy-LOH-ə;[2] born March 2, 1998) is an American professionalfootballquarterback for theMiami Dolphins of theNational Football League (NFL). He playedcollege football for theAlabama Crimson Tide and was named the Offensive MVP of the2018 College Football Playoff National Championship during his freshman season. As a sophomore, Tagovailoa won theMaxwell andWalter Camp awards en route to an appearance in the2019 National Championship.
After his junior season was cut short by a hip injury, Tagovailoa was selected fifth overall by the Dolphins in the2020 NFL draft. He spent his rookie season alternating as a backup and starter before becoming the team's primary starter in 2021. Tagovailoa led the league in passer rating in 2022 and passing yards in 2023, earningPro Bowl honors in the latter, and helping the Dolphins qualify for the playoffs both seasons. He currently ranks second all-time in completion percentage with at least 1,500 pass attempts[3] and is ninth in the NFL's all-time regular seasoncareer passer rating.
Tagovailoa[4] was born inʻEwa Beach, Hawaii, to Galu and Diane Tagovailoa, as the oldest of four children in aSamoan family.[5][6] He was said to have grown up with an intense interest in football, with his parents noting that he slept with a football under his arm every night as a small child.[5] DuringPop Warner games when he was eight years old, when his peers could typically throw a football little more than 10 yards, he routinely threw passes of more than 30 yards.[7]
As a child, his main inspiration was his grandfather Seu Tagovailoa. He was highly respected in the local Samoan community and was regularly addressed as "Chief Tagovailoa". Seu believed that Tagovailoa would eventually grow into a football star and he requested that he visit him after every game to report his progress. Tagovailoa briefly considered quitting the sport after Seu's death in 2014 until he and his father agreed that he could best honor him by continuing to play.[7][8]
When Tagovailoa beganvarsity high school football atSaint Louis School, he threw for 33 passingtouchdowns during his first season with three interceptions and 2,583 passing yards.[9] Tagovailoa said a big inspiration and motivation for his performance was how his father disciplined him, saying he used a belt whenever Tagovailoa threw an interception.[5] In 2016, Tagovailoa played in theAll-American Bowl,[10] and in his regular season threw for 2,669 passing yards with 27 passing touchdowns and seven interceptions. He was also chosen to be a part of theElite 11 roster as one of the top high school quarterbacks in the nation, where he was named MVP of that roster.[11] Throughout his career, fans and announcers alike had difficulty pronouncing Tagovailoa's name. He educated people on his culture by teaching them the correct pronunciation.[12]
Tagovailoa was deemed a four-star recruit during the 2017 recruiting cycle and was ranked the top high school prospect in the state ofHawaii.[13] He attendedSaint Louis School inHonolulu, the same school as 2014Heisman Trophy winnerMarcus Mariota,[14] where Mariota served as a mentor to him when they were growing up in Hawaii.[15] He had 17 offers to play on a college football scholarship before eventually enrolling at theUniversity of Alabama in January 2017. Tagovailoa likened Alabama's hospitality to Hawaii's when picking the school, and credits Alabama's church-going culture for making it feel more similar to his home state. Tagovailoa's 'pastor dad' also had a vision that he would go on to play at Alabama, despite the lack of recruitment out of Hawaii by the school.[16]
| Name | Hometown | School | Height | Weight | Commit date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tua Tagovailoa QB | Honolulu, Hawaii | St. Louis School | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | 212 lb (96 kg) | May 2, 2016 | |
Recruit ratings:Rivals:  247Sports:  ESPN: | ||||||
| Overall recruit ranking: Rivals: 53 (#3 QB, #1 HI) 247Sports: 22 (#1 QB, #1 HI) ESPN: 57 (#1 QB, #1 HI) | ||||||
Sources:
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As atrue freshman, Tagovailoa was the backup to sophomore quarterbackJalen Hurts throughout the2017 season. However, he experienced significant playing time due to a couple of blowout victories for the Crimson Tide. On September 9, he made his collegiate debut againstFresno State in a home game atBryant–Denny Stadium. In the 41–10 victory, he finished 6-of-9 for 64 yards and his first career passing touchdown, which was a 16-yard pass to wide receiverHenry Ruggs.[17] On September 23, in a 59–0 victory againstVanderbilt, he got more playing time and recorded 103 passing yards and two passing touchdowns.[18] In the next game, against SEC West rivalOle Miss, he recorded his first collegiate rushing touchdown in a 66–3 victory.[19] In theannual rivalry game againstTennessee, he finished with 134 passing yards, one passing touchdown, one interception, and one rushing touchdown in the 45–7 victory.[20] On November 18, in a game againstMercer, he threw for three passing touchdowns in the 56–0 victory.[21] On January 8, 2018, he replaced Hurts in the second half of the2018 College Football Playoff National Championship due to ineffective play by Hurts.[22] He threw the game-winning 41-yard touchdown pass in overtime to another true freshman, wide receiverDeVonta Smith as Alabama defeatedGeorgia, 26–23, claiming their 17th National Championship. He finished the game 14-of-24 for 166 passing yards, three passing touchdowns and one interception, along with 27 rushing yards on 12 attempts.[23][24] Tagovailoa was named the Offensive MVP of the game.[25] After winning the National Championship, Tagovailoa emphasized how important it was to him to make his home state of Hawaii proud of his success on the football field.[26]
On September 1, 2018, Tagovailoa made his first career start at theseason's opening game, againstLouisville, inOrlando, Florida. He finished 12-of-16, with 227 passing yards and two touchdowns in the 51–14 victory, before Jalen Hurts replaced him in the third quarter.[27] During Alabama head coach Nick Saban's weekly Monday press conference following the victory, he announced Tagovailoa as the starter for the Crimson Tide's home opener againstArkansas State on September 8.[28] In the 62–7 victory overOle Miss, he was 11-of-15 for 191 passing yards and two touchdowns to go along with 47 rushing yards.[29] He continued his efficient season againstTexas A&M with 387 passing yards, four passing touchdowns, and a rushing touchdown in the 45–23 victory.[30] In a limited role againstLouisiana, he was 8-of-8 passing for 128 passing yards and two passing touchdowns in the 56–14 victory.[31] In the next game againstArkansas, he had more passing touchdowns than incompletions as he went 10-of-13 for 334 passing yards and four passing touchdowns in the 65–31 victory.[32] Following the regular season, he finished second in the Heisman Trophy voting to Oklahoma quarterbackKyler Murray, but he won theWalter Camp Award andMaxwell Award for 2018, both awarded to the top player in college football.[33] While recovering from the high ankle sprain he suffered during the SEC Championship againstGeorgia, Tagovailoa put on a nearly flawless offensive performance againstOklahoma in the 2018 Orange Bowl (24-of-27 with 318 yards passing, four touchdowns and no interceptions) to lead the Tide to their fourth consecutive CFP National Championship appearance. He was also named Offensive MVP of that game.[34] In the2019 National Championship, Tagovailoa went 22-of-34 with 295 passing yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions in a 44–16 loss toClemson.[35] He also set a newNCAA FBS passer rating record of 199.4 for the season, surpassing the record 198.9 set byBaker Mayfield in 2017.[36]
Tagovailoa began his junior season at theChick-fil-A Kickoff Game with a victory againstDuke inAtlanta. He finished 26-of-31 with 336 passing yards and four touchdowns before sitting out the fourth quarter.[37] The second game of the season was a home opener victory againstNew Mexico State. Tagovailoa finished that game 16-of-24 with 227 passing yards and four total touchdowns before sitting out the fourth quarter.[38] In his third game of the season, a victory againstSouth Carolina, Tagovailoa finished 28-of-36 with 444 passing yards and five touchdowns.[39] In the Tide's 49–7 victory againstSouthern Miss, Tagovailoa finished 17-of-21 with 293 passing yards and five touchdowns.[40] In the Tide's fifth game, a victory againstOle Miss, Tagovailoa finished 26-of-36 with 418 passing yards and seven total touchdowns.[41] In the Tide's 47–28 victory againstTexas A&M, Tagovailoa finished 21-of-34 with 293 passing yards, four touchdowns, and one interception.[42]
Tagovailoa left the Tide's seventh game againstTennessee early in the second quarter after suffering a high ankle sprain.[43] He underwent surgery to repair the ankle the following day, and did not play in the next game againstArkansas (a 48–7 victory led by quarterbackMac Jones).[44][45] Tagovailoa returned three weeks post-surgery to play in the46–41 loss to top-rankedLSU.[46] Despite some struggles (a fumble and INT) in the first half of that game, Tagovailoa rebounded after halftime to finish 21-of-40 with 413 passing yards, four touchdowns, and one interception.[47]
In the Tide's matchup againstMississippi State, Tagovailoa led the team to a 35–7 lead (14-of-18, 256 passing yards, two touchdowns) before leaving the game after a sack that saw his knee driven into the ground, causing his hip to dislocate and fracturing the posterior wall of his acetabulum, as well as suffering a broken nose and concussion.[48][49] He was carted off the field and flown to a Birmingham hospital before undergoing surgery in Houston two days later.[49]
In January 2020, Tagovailoa announced that he would forgo his senior year and enter the2020 NFL draft.[50] Tagovailoa finished his collegiate career as holder of numerous Alabama football records, as well as notable NCAA career records, including: passing yards per attempt (10.9), adjusted passing yards per attempt (12.7), passing efficiency rating (199.4), and total yards per play (9.8).[51][52] He graduated with a bachelor's degree incommunication studies in August 2020.[53]
| Season | Team | Games | Passing | Rushing | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Record | Cmp | Att | Pct | Yds | Avg | TD | Int | Rtg | Att | Yds | Avg | TD | ||
| 2017 | Alabama | 8 | 0 | — | 49 | 77 | 63.6 | 636 | 8.3 | 11 | 2 | 175.0 | 27 | 133 | 4.9 | 2 |
| 2018 | Alabama | 15 | 15 | 14–1 | 245 | 355 | 69.0 | 3,966 | 11.2 | 43 | 6 | 199.4 | 57 | 190 | 3.3 | 5 |
| 2019 | Alabama | 9 | 9 | 8–1 | 180 | 252 | 71.4 | 2,840 | 11.3 | 33 | 3 | 206.9 | 23 | 17 | 0.7 | 2 |
| Career | 32 | 24 | 22–2 | 474 | 684 | 69.3 | 7,442 | 10.9 | 87 | 11 | 199.4 | 107 | 340 | 3.2 | 9 | |
| Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand span | Wonderlic | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | 217 lb (98 kg) | 30+1⁄2 in (0.77 m) | 10 in (0.25 m) | 19[54] | ||||||||
| All values fromNFL Combine[55][56] | ||||||||||||
Tagovailoa was projected to be takenfirst overall in the2020 NFL draft until his season-ending injury led toLSU quarterback and 2019Heisman Trophy winnerJoe Burrow supplanting him as the draft's top prospect.[57][58][59] Despite injury concerns, however, Tagovailoa was selected fifth overall by theMiami Dolphins.[60] Tagovailoa was also the firstleft-handed quarterback to be drafted by an NFL team sinceTim Tebow in 2010.[61] Because his college jersey number of 13 was retired by the Dolphins in honor ofDan Marino, Tagovailoa chose to wear number 1.[62]
Tagovailoa signed his four-year rookie contract, worth $30 million, on May 11, 2020.[63] He passed his physical with the team in July 2020 to begintraining camp,[64] but was named the backup toRyan Fitzpatrick to start the season.[65]
Tagovailoa made his debut appearance in a Week 6 game against theNew York Jets, coming in relief of Fitzpatrick in the fourth quarter of a 24–0 win where he threw two passes for nine yards.[66] His NFL appearance was the first for a left-handed quarterback sinceKellen Moore in 2015.[67] During the team's bye week, Tagovailoa was named the starter for their Week 8 game against theLos Angeles Rams.[68] On Tagovailoa's first career pass attempt as a starter, he was strip-sacked byAaron Donald. Later in the game, Tagovailoa recorded his first career touchdown on a pass thrown toDeVante Parker.[69] In Week 11 against theDenver Broncos, Tagovailoa threw for 83 yards and a touchdown before being replaced by Fitzpatrick early in the fourth quarter with the Broncos leading 20–10.[70] Tagovailoa jammed his thumb in practice prior to a Week 12 game against the Jets and missed the game.[71] He made his return in Week 13 against theCincinnati Bengals, where he threw for 296 yards and a touchdown during a 19–7 win.[72] In Week 14 during a narrow 33–27 defeat against theKansas City Chiefs, Tagovailoa eclipsed the 300 passing yard mark in the NFL for the first time by passing for 316 yards and two touchdowns, plus with an additional rushing touchdown. His performance earned himPepsi NFL Rookie of the Week honors for back-to-back weeks.[73][74] In Week 16 against theLas Vegas Raiders, Tagovailoa threw for 94 yards and a touchdown before being benched in favor of Fitzpatrick again in the fourth quarter.[75] In Week 17 against theBuffalo Bills, needing a win for the Dolphins to qualify for the playoffs, Tagovailoa threw for a career-high 361 yards, one touchdown, and three interceptions as Miami lost 56–26.[76] The Dolphins missed the playoffs for the fourth consecutive year, and for the 17th time in the 21 seasons since the retirement of Dan Marino.[77]
Tagovailoa led the Dolphins to a Week 1 win over theNew England Patriots, their divisional rivals. During Week 2 against the Bills, Tagovailoa suffered a rib injury early in the game, and was carted off the field on a motorized stretcher, not returning in that game.[78] Tagovailoa was later ruled out for the Dolphins Week 3 matchup against the Raiders, as it was revealed that he had fractured several ribs.[79] He was then placed on injured reserve on September 25, 2021,[80] and returned from injury in Week 6 against theJacksonville Jaguars in London. In his first game in nearly a month, Tagovailoa completed 33 of 47 passes for 329 yards, two touchdowns and an interception in a 23–20 loss to the Jaguars, dropping the Dolphins' record to 1–5.[81] The Dolphins lost two additional games to theAtlanta Falcons and Bills to drop their record to 1–7.[82] The following week, Tagovailoa missed the Dolphins' Week 9 game against theHouston Texans, as the Dolphins won 17–9.[83]
In their next game against theBaltimore Ravens, Tagovailoa came off the bench to energize the Dolphins, completing 8 of 13 passes for 158 yards and a rushing touchdown, resulting in an upset 22–10 victory.[84] Tagovailoa used the win to catapult a turnaround in his and his team's fortunes. The following week set the tone for the rest of the season, as he completed 27 of 33 passes for 273 yards, two touchdowns and an interception as the Dolphins beat the Jets 24–17.[85] He led the team to its first seven-game winning streak since1985.[86] During their 20–9 victory over theNew York Giants in Week 13, he became the first Dolphins quarterback since Dan Marino in1994 to throw at least 21 completions in the first half of a game.[87][88] In Week 17 against theTennessee Titans, Tagovailoa and the Dolphins were blown out 34–3. Following their loss, and with theLos Angeles Chargers defeating the Broncos, the Dolphins were eliminated from playoff contention for the fifth consecutive year, and 18th time in 20 seasons.[89] In the final game of the 2021 season, Tagovailoa led the Dolphins to their first sweep of the rival Patriots since2000, making him 3–0 againstBill Belichick and the Patriots in his career.[90] He finished the 2021 season with 2,653 passing yards, 16 passing touchdowns, and ten interceptions to go along with 42 carries for 128 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns in 13 games.[91]
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During the offseason previous to the 2022 season, the Miami Dolphins fired head coachBrian Flores, arguing internal communication issues.[92] A few weeks later, several sources confirmed differences between Tagovailoa and Flores with rumors of heavy discussions between them. The Dolphins hiredMike McDaniel as their head coach on February 6, 2022, who expressed unbridled support for Tagovailoa as his starting quarterback.[93]
Tagovailoa began his third season by throwing for 270 yards and a touchdown in a 20–7 win over the Patriots, improving to 4–0 againstBill Belichick and the Patriots.[94] The next week against the Ravens, Tagovailoa threw for a career-high 469 yards, six touchdowns, and two interceptions in the42–38 comeback win.[95] The 21-point comeback was the first fourth-quarter comeback of 21+ points in 12 years. Prior to the game, teams were 0–711 when trailing by at least 21 points in the fourth quarter since 2011.[96] His six-touchdown performance also tied the Dolphins franchise record, tying Hall of FamersBob Griese and Dan Marino,[97] and his 469 passing yards ranks fourth in franchise history.[98] As a result of his historic performance, Tagovailoa was namedAmerican Football Conference (AFC) Offensive Player of the Week for Week 2.[99] During Week 3 against the Bills, Tagovailoa briefly left the game with what the Dolphins claimed was a back injury but eventually returned to the game, finishing with 186 passing yards and a touchdown as the Dolphins won 21–19.[100] After the game, theNFLPA suspected that the Dolphins might have violated concussion protocols by letting Tagovailoa back in the game and subsequently announced that an investigation would be launched.[101][102] After being a game-time decision for Week 4, Tagovailoa was cleared to start against the Bengals. After taking a sack by Bengalsnose tackleJosh Tupou during the second quarter, Tagovailoa hit the ground with his left elbow, back and back of his helmet. Tagovailoa demonstrated afencing response and was stretchered off the field and transported to theUniversity of Cincinnati Medical Center with head and neck injuries.[103][104] He was discharged from the hospital later that night.[105] Two days later, the NFL players' union fired their independent neurotrauma consultant who was involved in Tagovailoa's concussion check during the Bills game.[106] Tagovailoa's suspected concussion resulted in the NFL and NFLPA revising its concussion protocol policy.[107] Tagovailoa returned to practice on October 12, but remained in concussion protocol.[108]
On October 15, Tagovailoa cleared concussion protocol, but remained inactive for the Week 6 game against theMinnesota Vikings.[109] Tagovailoa returned in Week 7 against thePittsburgh Steelers, where he threw for 261 yards and a touchdown in the 16–10 win.[110] The next week against theDetroit Lions, Tagovailoa threw for 382 yards and three touchdowns while completing 80% of his passes in the 31–27 win. On December 21, despite topping the overall fan votes (306,861) for the2023 Pro Bowl, Tagovailoa was not selected to the Pro Bowl.[111] Against theGreen Bay Packers onChristmas Day, Tagovailoa threw for 310 yards, and a touchdown, but threw three interceptions in the fourth quarter, including the game-losing one toRasul Douglas in the 26–20 loss.[112] The next day, it was announced that Tagovailoa had entered concussion protocol after he was experiencing concussion symptoms he suffered in the game.[113] On December 28, McDaniel confirmed Tagovailoa suffered a concussion and was ruled out for the Dolphins Week 17 game against the Patriots, and then also ruled out for the season finale against the Jets.[114][115][116] On January 9, the Dolphins clinched the AFC's final playoff berth, and their first since2016.[117] On January 11, McDaniel said that Tagovailoa had not been cleared to return to practice since he entered concussion protocol a second time, and was ruled out for his third consecutive game.[118]
Tagovailoa finished the regular season throwing for 3,548 yards, 25 touchdowns, and eight interceptions, going 8–5 in 13 games played.[119] Tagovailoa also led the league in passer rating and passing average.[120] He was ranked 82nd by his fellow players on theNFL Top 100 Players of 2023.[121]
On March 20, 2023, the Dolphins picked up the fifth-year option of Tagovailoa's contract.[122] In his first news conference since December 2022, Tagovailoa said that he considered retirement in the off-season due to his injuries in the 2022 season.[123]
Tagovailoa began his fourth season by throwing for 466 yards, three touchdowns, and an interception as the Dolphins won 36–34 against the Chargers.[124] For his performance, Tagovailoa was named AFC Offensive Player of the Week for Week 1.[125] In Week 2, Tagovailoa threw for 249 yards, a touchdown, and an interception in the Dolphins' 24–17 win against the Patriots.[126] During Week 3 against the Broncos, Tagovailoa finished with 309 passing yards and 4 touchdowns. The Dolphins also combined for 350 rushing yards and won 70–20. Tagovailoa's exceptional play in these games earned him AFC Offensive Player of the Month for September.[127] On January 3, 2024, it was announced that Tagovailoa had been selected for his first Pro Bowl appearance.[128] He was named as the starting quarterback of the AFC roster.[129]
Tagovailoa finished the season with a league-leading 4,624 passing yards, becoming the first Dolphins quarterback to lead the league in passing yards sinceDan Marino in 1992. Tagovailoa also generated career-highs in passing touchdowns (29), completions (388), and completion percentage (69.3%) in his fourth NFL season.[130] In addition, he started every game in 2023 while staying healthy throughout the season, a career first.[131]
Tagovailoa made his playoff debut against the Chiefs in theWild Card round, throwing for 199 yards with one touchdown and one interception in a 26–7 loss.[132] He was ranked 36th by his fellow players on theNFL Top 100 Players of 2024.[133]
On July 26, 2024, Tagovailoa signed a four-year, $212.4 million contract extension with the Dolphins through 2028.[134] Tagovailoa opened the season against theJacksonville Jaguars, throwing for 336 yards and leading a game-winning field goal drive.[135] DuringThursday Night Football on September 12, Tagovailoa suffered another concussion against the Bills after leading with his helmet into contact with safetyDamar Hamlin following a scramble.[136] The Dolphins later placed him on injured reserve following what became his third diagnosed concussion in two years, requiring him to miss at least four games, in order to give him ample time to progress through the NFL's concussion protocol while meeting with independent neurologists.[131] After fulfilling the required four-game absence, Tagovailoa was designated to return to practice on October 21. Head coachMike McDaniel confirmed that medical experts approved his return, and Tagovailoa stated that he did not consider retirement after the concussion.[137]
On October 27, Tagovailoa made his return in Week 8 against theArizona Cardinals, completing 28-of-38 passes for 234 yards and a touchdown as the Dolphins lost on a walk-off field goal, dropping their record to 2–5.[138] The following week against the Bills, Tagovailoa completed a career-best 89.3% of his passes (25-of-28) and led a game-tying touchdown drive with under two minutes left, but the Dolphins lost on another last-second field goal.[139] Tagovailoa helped snap a three-game losing streak with timely third-down throws, going 9-of-12 for 137 yards on third down in a 23–15 win over theLos Angeles Rams.[140] He continued his efficient play against the Raiders and Patriots, completing over 70% of his passes for 605 yards, seven touchdowns, and no interceptions across the two games as Miami improved to 5–6.[141] From weeks 12-14, Tagovailoa became the first QB to attempt 40 or more passes, throw multiple touchdowns, pass for more than 300 yards, and record zero interceptions across three games in the same season.[142] This stretch included a game-winning touchdown pass in overtime against theNew York Jets. He joined Dan Marino as the only Dolphins quarterback with a 300-yard performance in three consecutive games.[143] On December 22, Tagovailoa threw his 100th career touchdown pass to Tyreek Hill in a 29–17 win against the San Francisco 49ers.[144] He was ranked 91st by his fellow players on theNFL Top 100 Players of 2025.[145] He missed the season's final two games.[146] He finished the 2024 season with 2,867 yards, 19 touchdowns, and seven interceptions in 11 games.[147]
| Legend | ||
|---|---|---|
| Led the league | ||
| Bold | Career high | |
| Year | Team | Games | Passing | Rushing | Sacked | Fumbles | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Record | Cmp | Att | Pct | Yds | Y/A | Lng | TD | Int | Rtg | Att | Yds | Y/A | Lng | TD | Sck | SckY | Fum | Lost | ||
| 2020 | MIA | 10 | 9 | 6–3 | 186 | 290 | 64.1 | 1,814 | 6.3 | 35 | 11 | 5 | 87.1 | 36 | 109 | 3.0 | 17 | 3 | 20 | 136 | 1 | 1 |
| 2021 | MIA | 13 | 12 | 7–5 | 263 | 388 | 67.8 | 2,653 | 6.8 | 65 | 16 | 10 | 90.1 | 42 | 128 | 3.0 | 23 | 3 | 20 | 152 | 9 | 1 |
| 2022 | MIA | 13 | 13 | 8–5 | 259 | 400 | 64.8 | 3,548 | 8.9 | 84 | 25 | 8 | 105.5 | 23 | 70 | 3.0 | 18 | 0 | 21 | 163 | 6 | 1 |
| 2023 | MIA | 17 | 17 | 11–6 | 388 | 560 | 69.3 | 4,624 | 8.3 | 78 | 29 | 14 | 101.1 | 35 | 74 | 2.1 | 9 | 0 | 29 | 171 | 13 | 5 |
| 2024 | MIA | 11 | 11 | 6–5 | 291 | 399 | 72.9 | 2,867 | 7.2 | 80 | 19 | 7 | 101.4 | 17 | 49 | 2.9 | 13 | 0 | 21 | 154 | 7 | 2 |
| 2025 | MIA | 9 | 9 | 2–7 | 184 | 271 | 67.9 | 1,779 | 6.6 | 47 | 15 | 11 | 90.4 | 12 | 39 | 3.3 | 8 | 0 | 18 | 104 | 6 | 1 |
| Career | 73 | 71 | 40-31 | 1,751 | 2,308 | 68.1 | 17,285 | 7.5 | 84 | 115 | 55 | 97.1 | 165 | 469 | 2.8 | 23 | 6 | 129 | 880 | 42 | 11 | |
| Year | Team | Games | Passing | Rushing | Sacked | Fumbles | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Record | Cmp | Att | Pct | Yds | Y/A | Lng | TD | Int | Rtg | Att | Yds | Y/A | Lng | TD | Sck | SckY | Fum | Lost | ||
| 2022 | MIA | 0 | 0 | — | Did not play due to injury | |||||||||||||||||
| 2023 | MIA | 1 | 1 | 0–1 | 20 | 39 | 51.3 | 199 | 5.1 | 53 | 1 | 1 | 63.9 | 3 | 25 | 8.3 | 14 | 0 | 2 | 11 | 0 | 0 |
| Career | 1 | 1 | 0–1 | 20 | 39 | 51.3 | 199 | 5.1 | 53 | 1 | 1 | 63.9 | 3 | 25 | 8.3 | 14 | 0 | 2 | 11 | 0 | 0 | |
Tagovailoa has been noted for his throwing accuracy and touch, particularly in passes traveling over 20 yards in the air despite criticism of his arm strength. His awareness while scanning the field, avoiding defenders in the pocket and running have been highly touted,[148] with one source endearingly calling it his "Spidey-sense" in reference to the superheroSpider-Man.[149] In particular, Tagovailoa has been efficient in running therun-pass option, one of his strengths in college and early on in his professional career,[150] and his time to throw and time to release are among the fastest in the league.[151] However, his injury history has been extensive,[152] and he has struggled when defenses keep him in the pocket for extended periods of time and force him to improvise.[153]
Since taking over as head coach,Mike McDaniel has utilized Tagovailoa's fast processing and decision-making skills as an integral part of the Dolphins' offense, which has relied heavily on rhythm, timing, fast receivers such asTyreek Hill andJaylen Waddle, and pre-snap assessment, allowing Tagovailoa's further development as apocket passer.[149][154]
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Tagovailoa graduated early from Saint Louis School and moved with his family toAlabaster, Alabama, after his commitment to play for the University of Alabama.[155] Tagovailoa is anevangelical Christian.[156] He has been married to his wife, Annah (née Gore), since 2022.[157] They have two children; a son, and a daughter.[158][159]
Although Tagovailoa is predominantlyright-handed, his father trained him to throw the ball with his left hand as a child, because he wanted a left-handed son.[160] He is one of two startingleft-handed quarterbacks currently in the NFL, alongsideMichael Penix Jr.
His younger brother,Taulia Tagovailoa, is currently a quarterback in theIFL for theMassachusetts Pirates and previously played in theCFL andELF. He transferred to Maryland in 2020 after spending a year as Tagovailoa's backup at Alabama in 2019.[155][161] Two of Tagovailoa's cousins also play football:Myron Tagovailoa-Amosa played on the defensive line on the Raiders; Adam Amosa-Tagovailoa played on the offensive line atNavy.[162]
In 2023, Tagovailoa began practicingjiu-jitsu in response to the concussions he suffered in the 2022 NFL season.[123]
Tagovailoa is a supporter of theSamoa national rugby league team, and publicly pledged his support to the team during the2021 Rugby League World Cup where they made the Final for the first time.[163]
In 2025, Tagovailoa was added to PresidentDonald Trump'sCouncil on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition. Although he was named to the council without his knowledge, Tagovailoa went on to call the nomination "an honor".[164]
In February 2021, Tagovailoa announced the establishment of the Tua Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to the support of youth initiatives, health and wellness, and other charitable causes. The foundation focuses its efforts in communities that have had the most prominent impact on Tua including Hawaii, Alabama, and Miami.[165] The board of directors is composed of Tua Tagovailoa, June Jones, Jesse Sapolu, Vai Sikahema, and Diane Tagovailoa.[166]
In recognition of the foundation launch, three grants of $16,667 (totaling $50,000) were awarded on February 4 to the Police Athletic League of North Miami, Big Oak Ranch in Springville, Alabama, and the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame in Honolulu.[167]
In June 2020, Tagovailoa announced the establishment of a $300,000 scholarship endowment to benefit his high school, Saint Louis School in Honolulu, Hawaiʻi.[168]
The Tua Foundation hosted its inaugural fundraising event in August 2021, raising $93,000 for theTallapoosa County Girls Ranch to cover funeral expenses for the eight juveniles, ages 4–17, that were lost in a devastating car crash, and also counseling expenses to the girls of the ranch that lost loved ones.[169]
Tagovailoa identifies as "full Samoan" and "not Hawaiian" even though he is from Hawaii.[170] In his youth, Tagovailoa looked up to Marcus Mariota,Timmy Chang, andManti Te'o, three other football players from Hawaii.[171]
On May 19, 2018, Tagovailoa returned to Hawaii after winning the National Championship game with Crimson Tide teammate and friendNajee Harris to be celebrated at the Hometown Hero Parade. To celebrate his accomplishments that year, Tagovailoa performed a traditional Samoan ceremonial dance called ataualuga, which is often performed as a "final" step in a monumental task. He wore traditional Samoan clothing, headwear, and shoes, and was accompanied by his friend and cousin. Money is thrown at the dancer, and Tagovailoa chose to donate this money to his hometown church and youth football program.[170]
Tagovailoa enjoyed sharing his culture with his Alabama teammates, bringing his teammates Joshua Casher andAlex Leatherwood to exploreOahu'sPolynesian Cultural Center's villages. He believed it was a "good experience for them (his teammates) to see a good mix of cultures", and after they remarked on how they could lead traditional Samoan chants before Alabama games.[170]
In 2024, Tagovailoa collaborated with clothing brandPerry Ellis on a modern island life-themed line of clothing. He was inspired by aspects of his culture when designing the pieces and the clothing he grew up wearing. Tagovailoa commented on how clothing designs that were normal for his culture's everyday wear were pushing the boundaries of design for a company like Perry Ellis that typically sticks to more classic designs.[172]
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