Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa opened Wednesday’s press conference with an apology for comments he made following the team’s loss to the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday.
Tagovailoa had criticized leadership within the organization and pointed to teammates arriving late to players-only meetings.
His remarks drew criticism from various corners, but they also forced long-standing internal issues into public view.
The message behind his frustration seemed clear: accountability and structure need to improve if Miami hopes to turn its season around.
Analyst John Middlekauff defended Tagovailoa’s approach during a recent segment on 3 & OUT.
“I’m at the point now where I’m gonna defend him in this situation. Mike (McDaniel) told you last year, ‘I can’t get people to stop showing up late.’ The moment the head coach acknowledges, people will not show up to his team meetings on time? It’s never gonna function,” Middlekauff said, adding, “This team is just a joke, and it’s all falling on Tua. There’s been some people online saying, he’s been late to meetings in his past. I don’t know, I’m not there. But this doesn’t all fall on Tua. He’s just attempting to do whatever he can, because no one else will.”
“Tua’s just attempting to do whatever he can, because no one else will.” @HardRockBet@JohnMiddlekauff defends the Dolphins QB and thinks the team dysfunction falls on the organization. pic.twitter.com/3YIbzdR1TT
— 3 & OUT with John Middlekauff (@3andout_pod) October 17, 2025
After Miami dropped to 1-5, Tagovailoa made his frustration clear in postgame remarks.
He pointed to leadership and accountability as core issues, stressing that expectations must be communicated clearly and met consistently.
Tagovailoa highlighted problems like players arriving late or skipping team-only meetings entirely, questioning whether stricter rules might be necessary to restore discipline.
Following his apology on Wednesday, Tagovailoa explained that he spoke with teammates to clarify his intent behind the comments.
Some players had questions about his message, wanting to understand exactly what he meant.
Tagovailoa acknowledged he must handle such situations more carefully moving forward, emphasizing the importance of protecting the team.
The post Analyst Defends Tua Tagovailoa Over Dolphins’ Struggles appeared first on The Cold Wire.
