Former Alabama Quarterback Benched in Miami Following Monday Night Football Loss

Former Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa will watch the Miami Dolphins' next game from the sideline, as ESPN's NFL insider Adam Schefter reported on Monday that Tagovailoa, a former first-round draft pick out of Alabama, has been benched by the Dolphins.

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According to Schefter, the Dolphins will turn toward rookie quarterback Quinn Ewers, a former seventh-round draft pick out of Texas, for the remainder of the season.

Tagovailoa, a 6-foot-1, 225-pound quarterback, was drafted by the Dolphins out of Alabama with the fifth overall pick in the 2020 NFL draft. Tagovailoa got his first career start in the NFL against the New York Jets during his rookie season and has started every game that he's been healthy for since. The only season Tagovailoa has played a full season was in 2023, when he threw for 4,624 yards and 29 touchdowns.

During his six-year NFL career, Tagovailoa has completed 68% of his passes for 18,166 yards and 120 touchdowns. He's also rushed for 473 yards and six touchdowns, with all six coming in his first two seasons in the NFL. Tagovailoa's 2025 season has been the worst season of his career thus far, with 2,660 yards and 20 touchdowns, but 15 interceptions. His QBR was the lowest of his career at 36.7.

Tagovailoa was a five-star quarterback prospect from Honolulu, Hawaii, and ranked as the No. 1 dual-threat quarterback in the 2017 recruiting class. He enrolled at Alabama in January 2017 after committing to the Crimson Tide in May 2016. During his freshman season at Alabama, Tagovailoa was the backup quarterback to incumbent starter Jalen Hurts before replacing Hurts at halftime of the 2018 College Football Playoff National Championship game, leading Alabama to a comeback victory over the Georgia Bulldogs with a 2nd-and-26 touchdown pass to win the game in overtime.

Tagovailoa was named Alabama's starting quarterback ahead of the 2018 season, and he burst onto the scene with the Crimson Tide, completing 69% of his passes for 3,966 yards and 43 touchdowns. He was named a Heisman finalist and led Alabama to an SEC championship win and an appearance in the 2019 College Football Playoff National Championship game.

During his Alabama career, Tagovailoa completed 69.3% of his passes for 7,442 yards and 87 touchdowns. He also rushed for 340 yards and nine touchdowns.

Wyatt Fulton is the Tide 100.9 DME and Brand Manager, primarily covering Alabama Crimson Tide football and men's basketball. For more Crimson Tide coverage, follow Wyatt on X (Formerly known as Twitter) at @FultonW_.