The first head coach Tua Tagovailoa played for in the NFL was Brian Flores in the 2020 season.
Back then, the young quarterback was struggling to find himself in the pros, and critics felt that perhaps the Miami Dolphins made a mistake by taking him with the No. 5 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft ahead of Justin Herbert, who went to the Los Angeles Chargers with the next pick.
But Tagovailoa arguably has become a star over the past two seasons under Mike McDaniel, and he admitted that the attitudes his two head coaches had toward him were as different as night and day.
In a clip from the “Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz,” Tagovailoa admitted that Flores didn’t exactly make him feel good about himself, while McDaniel has given him plenty of positive energy.
“To put it in simplest terms, if you woke up every morning and I told you, you [stink] at what you did, that you don’t belong doing what you do, that you shouldn’t be here, that this guy should be here, that you haven’t earned this right, and then you have somebody else come in and tell you, ‘Dude, you are the best fit for this,’ … how would it make you feel listening to one or the other,” Tagovailoa said.
#Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa discusses the difference between having Brian Flores as his head coach vs. having Mike McDaniel.
This is a brutally honest answer from Tua… Positive energy and empowering someone goes a long way.
(🎥 @LeBatardShow)pic.twitter.com/DxUJuyfuxg
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) August 19, 2024
In 2020 and 2021 under Flores, Tagovailoa threw for a total of 4,467 yards, 27 touchdowns and 15 interceptions in 23 games as the Dolphins went 13-8 in games he started.
Flores was fired by Miami after the 2021 season, and he responded by filing a class-action lawsuit against Miami, two other teams and the NFL for what he claims was racial discrimination.
As far as Flores’ treatment of Tagovailoa, Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell is going to bat for his current defensive coordinator.
“I can just tell you I know that the players ‘Flo’ works with, he’s got great relationships here,” O’Connell said, via Kevin Seifert of ESPN.
Kevin O’Connell on Brian Flores, regarding Tua comments: “I can just tell you I know that the players Flo works with, he’s got great relationships here.” Full response: pic.twitter.com/03MyWm68hF
— Kevin Seifert (@SeifertESPN) August 19, 2024
McDaniel came to the Dolphins after several years on Kyle Shanahan’s staff with the San Francisco 49ers, which included a one-year stint as the 49ers offensive coordinator.
He has empowered Tagovailoa and implemented an offensive system that has helped unleash the 26-year-old while making the Dolphins into arguably the most explosive offensive team in the league.
Last season, Tagovailoa threw for 29 touchdowns, completed 69.3 percent of his pass attempts and posted a league-high 4,624 passing yards, all of which were career-highs, while being named to the Pro Bowl for the first time.
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Tua Tagovailoa Rips Former Dolphins Coach