Jump to content

Tua Tagovailoa

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by 173.84.13.10 (talk) at 13:27, 8 January 2024 (Early years: fax). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Tua Tagovailoa
refer to caption
Tagovailoa with the Dolphins in 2021
No. 1 – Miami Dolphins
Position:Quarterback
Personal information
Born: (1998-03-02) March 2, 1998 (age 26)
ʻEwa Beach, Hawaii, U.S.
Height:6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight:227 lb (103 kg)
Career information
High school:Saint Louis School (Honolulu, Hawaii)
College:Alabama (2017–2019)
NFL draft:2020 / round: 1 / pick: 5
Career history
Roster status:Active
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics as of Week 18, 2023
Passing attempts:1,638
Passing completions:1,096
Completion percentage:66.9%
TDINT:81–37
Passing yards:12,639
Passer rating:97.1
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Tuanigamanuolepola "Tua" Tagovailoa[1] (/ˌtʌŋvˈlə/ Tung-oh-vy-LOW-uh;[2] born March 2, 1998) is an American football quarterback for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Alabama Crimson Tide and was named the Offensive MVP of the 2018 College Football Playoff National Championship during his freshman season. Tagovailoa won the Maxwell and Walter Camp Awards as a sophomore. He is the brother of Maryland quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa.

After his junior season was cut short by a hip injury, Tagovailoa was selected fifth overall by the Dolphins in the 2020 NFL Draft. He spent his rookie season alternating as a backup and starter before becoming the team's primary starter in 2021.

Early years

Tagovailoa[3] was born in ʻEwa Beach, Hawaii, to Galu and Diane Tagovailoa, as the oldest of four children in a Samoan family.[4][5] Galu might have been his father, but Josh Allen is his daddy. He was said to have grown up with an intense interest in football, with his parents noting that he would sleep with a football under his arm every night as a small child.[4] During Pop 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.[6]

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.[6][7]

When Tagovailoa began varsity football in high school, he threw for 33 passing touchdowns during his first season with three interceptions and 2,583 passing yards.[8] 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.[4] In 2016, Tagovailoa played in the All-American Bowl,[9] 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 the Elite 11 roster as one of the top high school quarterbacks in the nation, where he was named MVP of that roster.[10]

Tagovailoa was deemed a four-star recruit during the 2017 recruiting cycle and was ranked the top high school prospect in the state of Hawaii.[11] He attended Saint Louis School in Honolulu, the same school as 2014 Heisman Trophy winner Marcus Mariota,[12] where Mariota served as a mentor to him when they were growing up in Hawaii.[13] He had 17 offers to play on a college football scholarship before eventually enrolling at the University of Alabama in January 2017.

College recruiting information
Name Hometown High school / college 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 
Star ratings: Rivals:4/5 stars   247Sports:5/5 stars    ESPN:4/5 stars
Overall recruiting rankings:   Rivals: 53 (#3 QB, #1 HI)  247Sports: 22 (#1 QB, #1 HI)  ESPN: 57 (#1 QB, #1 HI)
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

  • "2017 Team Ranking". Rivals.com.

College career

2017 season

As a true freshman, Tagovailoa was the backup to sophomore quarterback Jalen Hurts throughout the 2017 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 against Fresno State in a home game at Bryant–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 receiver Henry Ruggs.[14] On September 23, in a 59–0 victory against Vanderbilt, he got more playing time and recorded 103 passing yards and two passing touchdowns.[15] In the next game, against SEC West rival Ole Miss, he recorded his first collegiate rushing touchdown in a 66–3 victory.[16] In the annual rivalry game against Tennessee, he finished with 134 passing yards, one passing touchdown, one interception, and one rushing touchdown in the 45–7 victory.[17] On November 18, in a game against Mercer, he threw for three passing touchdowns in the 56–0 victory.[18] On January 8, 2018, he replaced Hurts in the second half of the 2018 College Football Playoff National Championship due to ineffective play by Hurts.[19] He threw the game-winning 41-yard touchdown pass in overtime to another true freshman, wide receiver DeVonta Smith as Alabama defeated Georgia; 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.[20][21] Tagovailoa was named the Offensive MVP of the game.[22]

2018 season

Tagovailoa with Alabama in 2018.

On September 1, 2018, Tagovailoa made his first career start at the season's opening game, against Louisville, in Orlando, 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.[23] 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 against Arkansas State on September 8.[24] In the 62–7 victory over Ole Miss, he was 11-of-15 for 191 passing yards and two touchdowns to go along with 47 rushing yards.[25] He continued his efficient season against Texas A&M with 387 passing yards, four passing touchdowns, and a rushing touchdown in the 45–23 victory.[26] In a limited role against Louisiana, he was 8-of-8 passing for 128 passing yards and two passing touchdowns in the 56–14 victory.[27] In the next game against Arkansas, 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.[28] Following the regular season, he finished second in the Heisman Trophy voting to Oklahoma quarterback Kyler Murray, but he won the Walter Camp Award and Maxwell Award for 2018, both awarded to the top player in college football.[29] While recovering from the high ankle sprain he suffered during the SEC Championship against Georgia, Tagovailoa put on a nearly flawless offensive performance against Oklahoma 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.[30] In the 2019 National Championship, Tagovailoa went 22-of-34 with 295 passing yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions in a 44–16 loss to Clemson.[31] He also set a new NCAA FBS passer rating record of 199.4 for the season, surpassing the record 198.9 set by Baker Mayfield in 2017.[32]

2019 season

Tagovailoa began his junior season at the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game with a victory against Duke in Atlanta. He finished 26-of-31 with 336 passing yards and four touchdowns before sitting out the fourth quarter.[33] The second game of the season was a home opener victory against New Mexico State. Tagovailoa finished that game 16-of-24 with 227 passing yards and four total touchdowns before sitting out the fourth quarter.[34] In his third game of the season, a victory against South Carolina, Tagovailoa finished 28-of-36 with 444 passing yards and five touchdowns.[35] In the Tide's 49–7 victory against Southern Miss, Tagovailoa finished 17-of-21 with 293 passing yards and five touchdowns.[36] In the Tide's fifth game, a victory against Ole Miss, Tagovailoa finished 26-of-36 with 418 passing yards and seven total touchdowns.[37] In the Tide's 47–28 victory against Texas A&M, Tagovailoa finished 21-of-34 with 293 passing yards, four touchdowns, and one interception.[38]

Tagovailoa left the Tide's seventh game against Tennessee early in the second quarter after suffering a high ankle sprain.[39] He underwent surgery to repair the ankle the following day, and did not play in the next game against Arkansas (a 48–7 victory led by quarterback Mac Jones).[40][41] Tagovailoa returned three weeks post-surgery to play in the 46–41 loss to top-ranked LSU.[42] 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.[43]

In the Tide's matchup against Mississippi 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, as well as suffering a broken nose and concussion.[44][45] He was carted off the field and flown to a Birmingham hospital before undergoing surgery in Houston two days later.[45]

In January 2020, Tagovailoa announced that he would forgo his senior year and enter the 2020 NFL Draft.[46] 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).[47][48] He graduated with a bachelor's degree in communication studies in August 2020.[49]

Statistics

Alabama Crimson Tide
Season Games Passing Rushing
GP GS Record Cmp Att Pct Yds Avg TD Int Rtg Att Yds Avg TD
2017 8 0 49 77 63.6 636 8.3 11 2 175.0 27 133 4.9 2
2018 15 15 14−1 245 355 69.0 3,966 11.2 43 6 199.4 57 190 3.3 5
2019 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

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand span Wonderlic
6 ft 0 in
(1.83 m)
217 lb
(98 kg)
30+12 in
(0.77 m)
10 in
(0.25 m)
13[50]
All values from NFL Combine[51]

Tagovailoa was projected to be taken first overall in the 2020 NFL Draft until his season-ending injury led to LSU quarterback and 2019 Heisman Trophy winner Joe Burrow supplanting him as the draft's top prospect.[52][53][54] Despite injury concerns, however, Tagovailoa was selected fifth overall by the Miami Dolphins.[55] Tagovailoa was also the first left-handed quarterback to be drafted by an NFL team since Tim Tebow in 2010.[56] Because his college jersey number of 13 was retired by the Dolphins in honor of Dan Marino, Tagovailoa chose to wear number 1.[57]

2020 season

Tagovailoa signed his four-year rookie contract, worth $30 million, on May 11, 2020.[58] He passed his physical with the team in July 2020 to begin training camp,[59] but was named the backup to Ryan Fitzpatrick to start the season.[60]

Tagovailoa made his debut appearance in a Week 6 game against the New York Jets, coming in relief of Fitzpatrick in the fourth quarter of a 24–0 win where he threw two passes for nine yards.[61] His NFL appearance was the first for a left-handed quarterback since Kellen Moore in 2015.[62] During the team's bye week, Tagovailoa was named the starter for their Week 8 game against the Los Angeles Rams.[63] On Tagovailoa's first career pass attempt as a starter, he was strip-sacked by Aaron Donald. Later in the game, Tagovailoa recorded his first career touchdown on a pass thrown to DeVante Parker.[64] In Week 11 against the Denver 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.[65] Tagovailoa jammed his thumb in practice prior to a Week 12 game against the Jets and missed the game.[66] He made his return in Week 13 against the Cincinnati Bengals, where he threw for 296 yards and a touchdown during a 19–7 win.[67] In Week 14 during a narrow 33-27 defeat against the Kansas 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 him Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Week honors for back-to-back weeks.[68][69] In Week 16 against the Las Vegas Raiders, Tagovailoa threw for 94 yards and a touchdown before being benched in favor of Fitzpatrick again in the fourth quarter.[70] In Week 17 against the Buffalo 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.[71] 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.[72]

2021 season

Tagovailoa in the 2021 NFL season: against the Patriots (left), against the Falcons (center) and against the Titans (right)

Tagovailoa led the Dolphins to a Week 1 win over the New 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.[73] Tagovailoa was later ruled out for the Dolphins Week 3 matchup against the Raiders, as it was revealed that he had fractured several ribs.[74] He was then placed on injured reserve on September 25, 2021,[75] and would return from injury in Week 6 against the Jacksonville 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.[76] The Dolphins lost two additional games to the Atlanta Falcons and Bills to drop their record to 1−7. The following week, Tagovailoa missed the Dolphins' Week 9 game against the Houston Texans, as the Dolphins won 17−9.

In their next game against the Baltimore 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. 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, 2 touchdowns and an interception as the Dolphins beat the Jets 24−17. He led the team to its first 7-game winning streak since 1985. During their 20−9 victory over the New York Giants in Week 13, he became the first Dolphins quarterback since Dan Marino in 1994 to throw at least 21 completions in the first half of a game.[77][78] In Week 17 against the Tennessee Titans, Tagovailoa and the Dolphins were blown out 34−3. Following their loss, and with the Los Angeles Chargers defeating the Broncos, the Dolphins were eliminated from playoff contention for the fifth consecutive year, and 18th time in 20 seasons. In the final game of the 2021 season, Tagovailoa led the Dolphins to their first sweep of the rival Patriots since 2000, making him 3−0 against Bill Belichick and the Patriots in his career.[79] 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.[80]

2022 season

During the offseason previous to the 2022 season, the Miami Dolphins fired head coach Brian Flores, arguing internal communication issues.[81] A few weeks later, several sources confirmed differences between Tagovailoa and Flores with rumors of heavy discussions between them. The Dolphins hired Mike McDaniel as their head coach on February 6, 2022, who expressed unbridled support for Tagovailoa as his starting quarterback.[82]

Tagovailoa began the season throwing for 270 yards and a touchdown in a 20−7 win over the Patriots, improving to 4−0 against Bill Belichick and the Patriots.[83] The next week against the Ravens, Tagovailoa threw for a career-high 469 yards, six touchdowns, and two interceptions in the 42−38 comeback win.[84] 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.[85] His six-touchdown performance also tied the Dolphins franchise record, tying Hall of Famers Bob Griese and Dan Marino,[86] and his 469 passing yards ranks fourth in franchise history.[87] As a result of his historic performance, Tagovailoa was named AFC Offensive Player of the Week for Week 2.[88] 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.[89] After the game, the NFLPA suspected that the Dolphins might have violated concussion protocols by letting Tagovailoa back in the game and subsequently announced that they would launch an investigation.[90][91] After being a game-time decision for Week 4, Tagovailoa was cleared to start against the Bengals. After taking a sack by Bengals nose tackle Josh Tupou during the second quarter, Tagovailoa hit the ground with his left elbow, back and back of his helmet. Tagovailoa demonstrated a fencing response and was stretchered off the field and transported to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center with head and neck injuries.[92][93] He was discharged from the hospital later that night.[94] Two days later, the NFL players' union fired their independent neurotrauma consultant who was involved in Tagovailoa's concussion check during the Bills game.[95] Tagovailoa's suspected concussion resulted in the NFL and NFLPA revising its concussion protocol policy.[96] Tagovailoa returned to practice on October 12, but remained in concussion protocol.[97]

On October 15, Tagovailoa cleared concussion protocol, but remained inactive for the Week 6 game against the Minnesota Vikings.[98] Tagovailoa returned in Week 7 against the Pittsburgh Steelers, where he threw for 261 yards and a touchdown in the 16–10 win.[99] The next week against the Detroit 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 the 2023 Pro Bowl, Tagovailoa was not selected to the Pro Bowl.[100] Against the Green Bay Packers on Christmas Day, Tagovailoa threw for 310 yards, and a touchdown, but threw three interceptions in the fourth quarter, including the game-losing one to Rasul Douglas in the 26–20 loss.[101] The next day, it was announced that Tagovailoa had entered concussion protocol after he was experiencing concussion symptoms he suffered in the game.[102] 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.[103][104][105] On January 9, the Dolphins clinched the AFC's final playoff berth, and their first since 2016.[106] 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.[107]

Tagovailoa finished the regular season throwing for 3,548 yards, 25 touchdowns, and eight interceptions, going 8–5 in 13 games played.[108] Tagovailoa also led the league in passer rating and passing average.[109]

2023 season

On March 20, 2023, the Dolphins picked up the fifth-year option of Tagovailoa's contract.[110] 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.[111]

Tagovailoa began the season throwing for 466 yards, three touchdowns, and an interception as the Dolphins won 36–34 against the Chargers.[112] For his performance, Tagovailoa was named AFC Offensive Player of the Week for Week 1.[113] In Week 2, Tagovailoa threw for 249 yards, a touchdown, and an interception in the Dolphins' 24–17 win against the Patriots.[114] 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.[115] On January 3, 2024 it was announced that Tagovailoa had been selected for his first Pro Bowl appearance.[116] He was named as the starting quarterback of the AFC roster.[117]

NFL career statistics

Legend
Led the league
Bold Career best
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
Career 53 51 32−19 1,096 1,638 66.9 12,639 7.7 84 81 37 97.1 136 381 2.8 23 6 90 622 29 8

Player profile

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,[118] with one source endearingly calling it his "Spidey-sense" in reference to the superhero Spider-Man.[119] In particular, Tagovailoa has been efficient in running the run-pass option, one of his strengths in college and early on in his professional career,[120] and his time to throw and time to release are among the fastest in the league.[121] However, his injury history has been extensive,[122] and he has struggled when defenses keep him in the pocket for extended periods of time and force him to improvise.[123]

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 as Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, and pre-snap assessment, allowing Tagovailoa's further development as a pocket passer.[119][124]

Personal life

Tagovailoa graduated early from Saint Louis School and moved with his family to Alabaster, Alabama, after his commitment to Alabama.[125] Tagovailoa is an evangelical Christian.[126] He has been married to his wife Annah since 2022 and they have one son, Ace.[127][128]

Although Tagovailoa is predominantly right-handed, his father trained him to throw the ball with his left hand as a child, because he wanted a left-handed son.[129] He is the only starting left-handed quarterback currently in the NFL.

His younger brother, Taulia Tagovailoa, is a college football quarterback for the Maryland Terrapins. He transferred there in 2020 after spending a year as Tagovailoa's backup at Alabama in 2019.[125][130] Two of Tagovailoa's cousins also play football: Myron Tagovailoa-Amosa played on the defensive line on the Raiders while Adam Amosa-Tagovailoa played on the offensive line at Navy.[131]

In 2023, Tagovailoa began practicing jiu-jitsu in response to the concussions he suffered in the 2022 NFL season.[111]

Tagovailoa is a supporter of the Samoa national rugby league team, and publicly pledged his support to the team during the 2021 Rugby League World Cup where they made the Final for the first time.[132]

Philanthropy

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.[133]

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.[134]

In June 2020, Tagovailoa announced the establishment of a $300,000 scholarship endowment to benefit his high school, Saint Louis School in Honolulu, Hawaiʻi.[135]

The Tua Foundation hosted its inaugural fundraising event in August 2021, raising $93,000 for the Tallapoosa 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.[136]

References

  1. ^ Inabinett, Mark (January 31, 2023). "Tua: 'Let me set y'all straight' (about his name)". AL.com. Retrieved September 21, 2023.
  2. ^ "How do you pronounce Tua Tagovailoa? Here's a guide to help you (and Roger Goodell) on draft night". Sporting News. August 13, 2021. Retrieved October 30, 2022.
  3. ^ Tapp, Connor (January 8, 2018). "How to pronounce Tua Tagovailoa, as explained by Tua Tagovailoa". 247 Sports. Retrieved April 16, 2020.
  4. ^ a b c Cash, Meredith (January 7, 2019). "Tua Tagovailoa gave some dark details of how far his father went to turn him into one of the best players in college football". Business Insider. Retrieved February 15, 2019.
  5. ^ "Alabama 2017 Class: Tua Tagovailoa". foxsports.com. Archived from the original on January 9, 2018. Retrieved January 9, 2018.
  6. ^ a b Schnell, Lindsey (October 8, 2015). "The islands' next great QB: Tua Tagovailoa, and the story of the man who inspired him to soar". Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on January 9, 2018. Retrieved January 9, 2018.
  7. ^ Thompson, Wright (December 7, 2018). "Tua Tagovailoa's success is generations in the making". ESPN. Retrieved April 1, 2020.
  8. ^ "Tua Tagovailoa, St. Louis Crusaders, Dual-Threat Quarterback". 247Sports. Retrieved February 15, 2019.
  9. ^ "Army All-American Bowl presents Tua Tagovailoa with jersey 11/30/16". YouTube. Star-Advertiser. November 30, 2016. Retrieved February 15, 2019.
  10. ^ Kirpalani, Sanjay (July 10, 2016). "Meet Tua Tagovailoa, the 2016 Elite 11 MVP". Bleacher Report. Retrieved February 15, 2019.
  11. ^ "Tua Tagovailoa, 2017 Dual-threat quarterback - Rivals.com". Rivals. Retrieved October 20, 2020.
  12. ^ Al-Khateeb, Zac (January 8, 2018). "Tua Tagovailoa replaces Jalen Hurts: What you need to know about freshman QB". Sporting News. Archived from the original on January 9, 2018. Retrieved January 9, 2018.
  13. ^ Wolfe, Cameron (January 9, 2018). "Mariota happy for protege Tagovailoa's success". ESPN.com. Archived from the original on January 10, 2018. Retrieved January 10, 2018.
  14. ^ "Fresno State at Alabama Box Score, September 9, 2017". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Archived from the original on January 23, 2018. Retrieved January 22, 2018.
  15. ^ "Alabama at Vanderbilt Box Score, September 23, 2017". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Archived from the original on January 23, 2018. Retrieved January 22, 2018.
  16. ^ "Ole Miss at Alabama Box Score, September 30, 2017". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Archived from the original on January 23, 2018. Retrieved January 22, 2018.
  17. ^ "Tennessee at Alabama Box Score, October 21, 2017". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Archived from the original on November 9, 2017. Retrieved January 22, 2018.
  18. ^ "Mercer at Alabama Box Score, November 18, 2017". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Archived from the original on January 23, 2018. Retrieved January 22, 2018.
  19. ^ Lyles, Harry Jr.; Kirshner, Alex (January 9, 2018). "True freshman Tua Tagovailoa replaces Jalen Hurts in the middle of the National Championship, sparking Alabama". SB Nation. Archived from the original on January 9, 2018. Retrieved January 9, 2018.
  20. ^ "College Football Championship – Alabama vs Georgia Box Score, January 8, 2018". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Archived from the original on January 23, 2018. Retrieved January 22, 2018.
  21. ^ Hoffman, Benjamin; Drape, Joe; Tracy, Marc (2018). "National Championship Game: Alabama Beats Georgia Behind Freshman Quarterback". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on January 9, 2018. Retrieved January 9, 2018.
  22. ^ Rapp, Timothy (January 9, 2018). "Tua Tagovailoa, Da'Ron Payne Win 2018 College Football National Championship MVP". Bleacher Report. Retrieved September 16, 2021.
  23. ^ "Tagovailoa shines, No. 1 Alabama routs Louisville 51–14". USA Today. Associated Press. September 2, 2018. Retrieved October 8, 2018.
  24. ^ "No. 1 Alabama names Tua Tagovailoa starting quarterback". Honolulu Star-Advertiser. Associated Press. September 3, 2018. Retrieved October 8, 2018.
  25. ^ Rice, Megan (September 16, 2018). "No. 1 Alabama rolls past Ole Miss". WREG.com. Retrieved October 8, 2018.
  26. ^ Hurt, Cecil (September 22, 2018). "Tagovailoa throws for 387 yards, four TDs as Tide thumps Aggies". Tuscaloosa News. Retrieved October 8, 2018.
  27. ^ "No sweat: Tua goes 8-for-8 as No. 1 Alabama rolls". Honolulu Star-Advertiser. Associated Press. September 29, 2018. Retrieved October 8, 2018.
  28. ^ "Tagovailoa throws 4 TD as No. 1 Alabama beats Arkansas 65–31". USA Today. Associated Press. October 6, 2018. Retrieved October 8, 2018.
  29. ^ "Alabama QB Tagovailoa wins Walter Camp Award". ESPN.com. December 6, 2018. Retrieved December 7, 2018.
  30. ^ Potter, Charlie (December 30, 2018). "Tua Tagovailoa, Xavier McKinney named MVPs of Orange Bowl". BamaOnLine. Retrieved October 11, 2019.
  31. ^ "College Football Championship - Clemson vs Alabama Box Score, January 7, 2019". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved November 3, 2020.
  32. ^ Walsh, Christopher (June 6, 2019). "Stat pack: Putting Tua Tagovailoa's record-setting passer rating in perspective". www.si.com. Retrieved October 11, 2019.
  33. ^ Wasson, David (August 31, 2019). "Alabama's offense starts slow, can't run it, but Tua is still Tua". SaturdayDownSouth.com. Retrieved August 31, 2019.
  34. ^ "New Mexico State at Alabama Box Score, September 7, 2019". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved November 3, 2020.
  35. ^ Rodak, Mike (September 15, 2019). "Tua Tagovailoa has career day in South Carolina, resets Alabama record book". AL.com. Retrieved October 11, 2019.
  36. ^ Daniels, Tim (September 21, 2019). "Tua Tagovailoa Throws 5 TDs, No. 2 Alabama Crushes Southern Miss. 49–7". Bleacher Report. Retrieved October 11, 2019.
  37. ^ Potter, Charlie (September 29, 2019). "Game balls for Alabama: Ole Miss". BamaOnLine. Retrieved October 11, 2019.
  38. ^ Wells, Adam (October 12, 2019). "Tua Tagovailoa's 4 TDs Lead No. 1 Alabama to 47–28 Win over Texas A&M". Bleacher Report. Retrieved October 12, 2019.
  39. ^ Casagrande, Michael (October 20, 2019). "Tua Tagovailoa injured in Tennessee game, ruled out for 2nd half". AL.com. Retrieved November 12, 2019.
  40. ^ Zucker, Joseph (October 20, 2019). "Alabama's Tua Tagovailoa Underwent Ankle Surgery; Out vs. Arkansas with Injury". Bleacher Report. Retrieved November 12, 2019.
  41. ^ Moody, Ronald (October 27, 2019). "Alabama Football: Studs and Duds from Alabama win over Arkansas". Bama Hammer. Retrieved November 12, 2019.
  42. ^ Hensley, Adam (November 9, 2019). "Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa starts against LSU after ankle surgery". USA TODAY. Retrieved November 12, 2019.
  43. ^ "Joe Burrow leads No. 2 LSU past No. 3 Alabama in 46–41 thriller". ESPN.com. Associated Press. November 9, 2019. Retrieved November 12, 2019.
  44. ^ Bogage, Jacob (November 16, 2019). "Alabama's Tua Tagovailoa dislocates hip, will miss remainder of the season". The Washington Post. Retrieved November 16, 2019.
  45. ^ a b "Tua Tagovailoa injury timeline: What's next, dates to know and the big NFL draft question". ESPN.com. December 11, 2019. Retrieved March 4, 2020.
  46. ^ Pickman, Ben (January 6, 2020). "Two Months After Surgery, Alabama QB Tua Tagovailoa Enters 2020 NFL Draft". SI.com. Retrieved March 1, 2020.
  47. ^ Casagrande, Michael (November 21, 2019). "Where Tua Tagovailoa's career stands in Alabama record book". al. Retrieved April 23, 2020.
  48. ^ "Tua Tagovailoa College Stats". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved April 23, 2020.
  49. ^ Shimabuku, Christian (August 1, 2020). "Tua Tagovailoa graduates from University of Alabama". KHON2. Archived from the original on August 7, 2020. Retrieved August 1, 2020.
  50. ^ Kerr, Jeff (April 17, 2020). "2020 NFL Draft: Wonderlic test scores revealed, Tua Tagovailoa ranks lowest among quarterbacks, per report". cbssports.com. Retrieved October 28, 2021.
  51. ^ "Tua Tagovailoa Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved April 24, 2020.
  52. ^ Dill, Jason (October 14, 2020). "This former NFL player thinks Dolphins' 'Tank for Tua' plan 'is a joke'". Miami Herald. Retrieved May 3, 2021.
  53. ^ Larking, Roy (April 23, 2020). "2020 NFL Draft Prop Bet: When Will Tua Tagovailoa Be Taken?". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved May 3, 2021.
  54. ^ Kosko, Nick (February 13, 2020). "Tua Tagovailoa 'in the mix' for No. 1 pick, says one NFL analyst". 247Sports. Retrieved May 3, 2021.
  55. ^ Wolfe, Cameron (April 23, 2020). "Miami Dolphins select Alabama QB Tua Tagovailoa with fifth pick of NFL draft". ESPN.com. Retrieved April 24, 2020.
  56. ^ Goldberg, Rob (April 23, 2020). "Dolphins' Tua Tagovailoa Is 1st Left-Handed QB to Be Drafted in Last 10 Years". Bleacher Report. Retrieved December 17, 2020.
  57. ^ Schad, Joe (May 5, 2020). "Tua Tagovailoa chooses Miami Dolphins jersey number". The Palm Beach Post. Retrieved May 6, 2020.
  58. ^ Blackwell, Joey (May 11, 2020). "Tua Tagovailoa Signs Contract with Miami Dolphins". SI.com. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  59. ^ Shook, Nick (July 29, 2020). "Flores: Tua passed physical, won't start Dolphins camp on PUP". NFL.com. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  60. ^ Wolfe, Cameron (September 7, 2020). "Dolphins name QB Ryan Fitzpatrick starter, Tua Tagovailoa as backup". ESPN.com. Retrieved September 7, 2020.
  61. ^ Maya, Adam (October 18, 2020). "Dolphins rookie QB Tua Tagovailoa makes NFL debut in win vs. Jets". www.nfl.com. Retrieved October 19, 2020.
  62. ^ Breech, John (October 22, 2020). "Tua Tagovailoa set to give the NFL something it hasn't seen at quarterback in nearly five years". CBS Sports. Retrieved December 17, 2020.
  63. ^ Smith, Michael David (October 20, 2020). "Tua Tagovailoa to start for Dolphins". ProFootballTalk. NBC Sports. Retrieved November 3, 2020.
  64. ^ Walker, Patrik (November 1, 2020). "Dolphins vs. Rams score: Tua Tagovailoa wins first NFL start with help of Miami defense, special teams". CBSSports.com. Retrieved March 2, 2021.
  65. ^ Wolfe, Cameron (November 24, 2020). "Tua Tagovailoa's benching a lesson for young QB -- and the Dolphins". www.espn.com. Retrieved December 5, 2020.
  66. ^ Wells, Adam (November 29, 2020). "Tua Tagovailoa out for Dolphins vs. Jets with Injury; Ryan Fitzpatrick to Start". www.bleacherreport.com. Retrieved December 5, 2020.
  67. ^ "Tua Tagovailoa returns, throws for 296 yards as Dolphins beat Bengals". Honolulu Star-Advertiser. Associated Press. December 6, 2020. Retrieved March 2, 2021.
  68. ^ Lang, David (December 18, 2020). "Tua Tagovailoa named NFL rookie of the week". WPLG. Retrieved September 28, 2023.
  69. ^ "NFL.com | Official Site of the National Football League". NFL.com. Retrieved September 28, 2023.
  70. ^ Selbe, Nick (December 26, 2020). "FitzMagic Replaces Tua, Eliminates Raiders From Playoffs in Chaotic Dolphins Win". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved March 2, 2021.
  71. ^ Inabinett, Mark (January 3, 2021). "Tua Tagovailoa: 'It's a bitter taste in our mouths'". AL.com. Retrieved March 2, 2021.
  72. ^ "Miami Dolphins Team Records, Leaders, and League Ranks". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved June 4, 2023.
  73. ^ Louis-Jacques, Marcel (September 19, 2021). "Tua Tagovailoa carted off with rib injury". ESPN.com. Retrieved September 19, 2021.
  74. ^ Louis-Jacques, Marcel (September 22, 2021). "Fins rule Tua out vs. Raiders with fractured ribs". ESPN.com. Retrieved September 22, 2021.
  75. ^ "Roster Moves: Dolphins Promote QB Sinnett to Active, Place QB Tagovailoa on IR". MiamiDolphins.com. September 25, 2021. Retrieved September 29, 2021.
  76. ^ "Miami Dolphins at Jacksonville Jaguars - October 17th, 2021". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved January 4, 2022.
  77. ^ Lamy, West (December 30, 2021). "The Dolphins make me cry, Miami Dolphins on 7 game win streak for first time since 1985". WORLDWIDEWEST. Retrieved January 4, 2022.
  78. ^ "New York Giants at Miami Dolphins - December 5th, 2021". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved January 4, 2022.
  79. ^ "Dolphins win, sweep Patriots for first time since 2000". Reuters. January 10, 2022. Retrieved October 24, 2022.
  80. ^ "Tua Tagovailoa 2021 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved October 24, 2022.
  81. ^ Nogle, Kevin (January 10, 2022). "Dolphins fire Brian Flores to improve 'communication and collaboration'". The Phinsider. Retrieved October 24, 2022.
  82. ^ Smith, Michael David (April 12, 2022). "Tua Tagovailoa feeling a new level of support from Mike McDaniel and Dolphins' staff". ProFootballTalk. Retrieved October 24, 2022.
  83. ^ Gaydos, Ryan (September 11, 2022). "Tua Tagovailoa leads Dolphins to win in opener vs. Patriots". Fox News. Retrieved September 12, 2022.
  84. ^ Louis-Jacques, Marcel (September 18, 2022). "Tua's career-best 6-TD game powers comeback". ESPN.com. Retrieved September 18, 2022.
  85. ^ Camenker, Jacob (September 18, 2022). "How Tua Tagovailoa, Dolphins made 21-point fourth-quarter comeback to stun the Ravens and spoil Lamar Jackson's historic performance". The Sporting News. Retrieved September 24, 2022.
  86. ^ Holzman-Escareno, Anthony (September 19, 2022). "NFL stats and records, Week 2: Tua Tagovailoa makes his mark on Dolphins' history". NFL.com. Retrieved September 19, 2022.
  87. ^ "Dolphins single game passing yards record". statmuse.com. September 19, 2022. Retrieved September 19, 2022.
  88. ^ Gordon, Grant (September 21, 2022). "Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa, Lions WR Amon-Ra St. Brown highlight Players of the Week". NFL.com. Retrieved September 21, 2022.
  89. ^ Owens, Jason (September 25, 2022). "Tua Tagovailoa returns vs. Bills after scary head injury left him wobbly". sports.yahoo.com. Retrieved September 25, 2022.
  90. ^ "NFLPA to investigate handling of Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa concussion evaluation during game vs. Bills". NFL.com. September 25, 2022. Retrieved September 25, 2022.
  91. ^ DeArdo, Bryan (September 29, 2022). "NFLPA to investigate Dolphins' handling of Tua Tagovailoa's concussion check vs. Bills, per report". CBSSports.com. Retrieved September 25, 2022.
  92. ^ Schwab, Frank (September 29, 2022). "Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa carted off after being slammed down to the turf". Yahoo Sports. Retrieved September 30, 2022.
  93. ^ Daniels, Tim (September 30, 2022). "Dolphins' Tua Tagovailoa Stretchered Off, Taken to Hospital with Head, Neck Injuries". Bleacher Report. Retrieved September 30, 2022.
  94. ^ Gordon, Grant (September 29, 2022). "Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa discharged from hospital Thursday after suffering concussion vs. Bengals". NFL.com. Retrieved September 30, 2022.
  95. ^ "NFLPA terminates unaffiliated neurotrauma consultant involved in Tua Tagovailoa's concussion evaluation during Week 3 game vs. Bills". NFL.com. October 1, 2022. Retrieved October 2, 2022.
  96. ^ Vrentas, Jenny; Morgan, Emmanuel (October 8, 2022). "N.F.L. and Players' Union Agree to Change Concussion Rules". The New York Times. Retrieved October 24, 2022.
  97. ^ Pelissero, Tom; Rapoport, Ian (October 12, 2022). "Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa to return to field Wednesday; timeline for return to play still TBD". NFL.com. Retrieved October 12, 2022.
  98. ^ Gonzales, Christian (October 15, 2022). "Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa clears concussion protocol, slated to start Week 7 vs. Steelers". NFL.com. Retrieved October 15, 2022.
  99. ^ Schwab, Frank (October 23, 2022). "Tua Tagovailoa returns, Dolphins beat Steelers when defense closes out win". sports.yahoo.com. Retrieved October 24, 2022.
  100. ^ Breech, John (December 22, 2022). "Pro Bowl voting surprise: NFL star gets left off roster despite winning fan vote, plus two teams get snubbed". cbssports.com. Retrieved December 25, 2022.
  101. ^ "Packers vs. Dolphins - NFL Game Recap - December 25, 2022". ESPN. Retrieved December 26, 2022.
  102. ^ Louis-Jacques, Marcel (December 26, 2022). "Miami Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa back in concussion protocol". ESPN.com. Retrieved December 26, 2022.
  103. ^ Louis-Jacques, Marcel (December 28, 2022). "Tua concussion has Bridgewater in line to start". ESPN.com. Retrieved December 28, 2022.
  104. ^ Dedaj, Paulina (December 28, 2022). "Dolphins' Mike McDaniel confirms Tua Tagovailoa suffered a concussion, Teddy Bridgewater to start vs. Patriots". FOX News. Retrieved December 28, 2022.
  105. ^ "Tagovailoa out, rookie Thompson to start for Miami vs. Jets". FOX Sports. Associated Press. January 6, 2023. Retrieved January 6, 2023.
  106. ^ Louis-Jacques, Marcel (January 8, 2023). "Dolphins earn first postseason berth since 2016". ESPN.com. Retrieved January 11, 2023.
  107. ^ Poupart, Alain (January 11, 2023). "Tua Ruled Out for Buffalo Game". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved January 11, 2023.
  108. ^ "Tua Tagovailoa 2022 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved June 4, 2023.
  109. ^ "2022 NFL Leaders and Leaderboards". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved January 9, 2023.
  110. ^ "Miami Dolphins Exercise Fifth-Year Option on Tua Tagovailoa". Miami Dolphins. March 20, 2023. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
  111. ^ a b Louis-Jacques, Marcel (April 19, 2023). "Tua Tagovailoa says he mulled retiring, learned how to fall". ESPN.com. Retrieved April 19, 2023.
  112. ^ "Tua Tagovailoa, Tyreek Hill put up historic Week 1 numbers to rally Dolphins past Chargers". Retrieved September 12, 2023.
  113. ^ Gordon, Grant (September 13, 2023). "Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa, 49ers WR Brandon Aiyuk highlight Players of the Week". NFL.com. Retrieved September 13, 2023.
  114. ^ "Dolphins' Tua Tagovailoa: Modest output in win". cbssports.com. Retrieved September 18, 2023.
  115. ^ "Tagovailoa Named AFC Offensive Player of the Month". Retrieved September 28, 2023.
  116. ^ "Revealing AFC and NFC QBs for 2024 Pro Bowl Games". Retrieved January 4, 2024.
  117. ^ "2024 Pro Bowl Games: Complete AFC roster revealed". Retrieved January 4, 2024.
  118. ^ "How Tua Tagovailoa's play style makes him a unique NFL QB". Roll Tide Wire. September 4, 2020. Retrieved December 11, 2023.
  119. ^ a b "Tua Tagovailoa's "Spidey-sense" in pocket has never been better". The Palm Beach Post. Retrieved December 11, 2023.
  120. ^ Solak, Ben (December 1, 2021). "Tua Tagovailoa Is the Best RPO Passer in the League—and That's All". The Ringer. Retrieved December 11, 2023.
  121. ^ "Chiefs Focused on Disrupting Dolphins' Offensive Rhythm, Tua's Timing". FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV. November 2, 2023. Retrieved December 11, 2023.
  122. ^ "Tua Tagovailoa injury history: A complete timeline of injuries for Dolphins QB". www.sportingnews.com. January 15, 2023. Retrieved December 11, 2023.
  123. ^ Peralta, Matthew (November 7, 2023). "Analyst Details How Chiefs Stopped Tua Tagovailoa". The Cold Wire. Retrieved December 11, 2023.
  124. ^ Solak, Ben (September 11, 2023). "The Hot Read, Week 1: Tua Is Back and the Rest of the NFL Is on Notice". The Ringer. Retrieved December 11, 2023.
  125. ^ a b Thomas, Ben (March 30, 2017). "Alabama QB Tua Tagovailoa's brother set to enroll at Thompson High". AL.com. Archived from the original on January 10, 2018. Retrieved January 9, 2017.
  126. ^ Goodman, Joseph (January 26, 2017). "The Tim Tebow of Hawaii has big plans for Alabama". AL.com. Archived from the original on May 19, 2022. Retrieved August 4, 2023.
  127. ^ Shimabuku, Christian (August 4, 2022). "Tua Tagovailoa confirms marriage". khon2.com. Retrieved August 19, 2023.
  128. ^ Kelly, Omar (April 19, 2023). "Tua Discusses Retirement Thoughts; Why He's Back". si.com. Retrieved August 19, 2023.
  129. ^ Casagrande, Michael (January 13, 2019). "How Alabama QB Tua Tagovailoa became left-handed". AL.com. Retrieved January 29, 2020.
  130. ^ Carroll, Charlotte (April 21, 2018). "Taulia Tagovailoa, Younger Brother of Tua, Commits to Alabama". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved April 22, 2018.
  131. ^ Hansen, Eric (November 17, 2017). "Faith and family drive Notre Dame DL Myron Tagovailoa-Amosa". NDInsider.com. Retrieved September 25, 2020.
  132. ^ "'This is a big deal': The Rock, NFL star QB deliver epic speeches to Samoa ahead of World Cup final". Fox Sports. November 19, 2022. Retrieved November 5, 2023.
  133. ^ Tolentino, Josh (February 4, 2021). "Tagovailoa launches foundation for South Florida and beyond". The Athletic. Retrieved June 4, 2023.
  134. ^ "Tua Tagovailoa Announces the Establishment of the Tua Foundation". Tua Foundation. February 4, 2021. Retrieved January 4, 2022.
  135. ^ Rodak, Mike (June 16, 2020). "Tua gives $300,000 to high school for scholarships". AL.com. Retrieved January 4, 2022.
  136. ^ Smith, Dylan (August 5, 2021). "Tua Foundation donates $93K to Tallapoosa County Girls Ranch after tragic crash, covering funeral expenses". Yellowhammer News. Retrieved January 4, 2022.