Dolphins Make Major Change After Being Crushed By Steelers

The Miami Dolphins made a major change following their loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday Night Football.

Tua Tagovailoa is being benched after his uninspiring performance in that game, according to NFL Media’s Tom Pelissero. Quinn Ewers will get the start against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 16, his first since entering the league as a seventh-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.

Tagovailoa signed a four-year, $212.4 million contract extension back in 2024, though he can be released this offseason to the tune of a new record dead cap hit of $99.2 million that could be spread out if he’s designated as a post-June 1 cut ($67.4 million in 2026, $31.8 million in 2027). The Denver Broncos currently hold the record for dead cap hit ($85 million) with their release of quarterback Russell Wilson, and we all see how well that one worked out for them.

Miami could also look to eat the majority of the money and trade him to be someone’s bridge quarterback next season, with one team in particular being viewed as a decent candidate.

The Steelers have some uncertainty at the quarterback position beyond this season, with Aaron Rodgers nearing the end, Mason Rudolph entering unrestricted free agency, and Will Howard still looking to carve out a role — so perhaps they look to keep that window open for a few more seasons with Tagovailoa.

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