Tua Tagovailoa fires back at Cam Newton’s critique as Dolphins open season 0-3

MIAMI — A public critique from Cam Newton about Tua Tagovailoa’s contract and play drew a pointed response from the Dolphins quarterback as Miami opened 2025 with an 0-3 start.

Newton, appearing on ESPN's First Take, cited Tagovailoa’s four-year, $212.1 million extension and argued the quarterback’s compensation should come with higher expectations. He said, "What you're being paid, what you're asked to do, what you have the capability of, from one quarterback to another, I look at the situation like ‘Come on, dawg.’ Especially when you've got a Ferrari and a Lamborghini and other amenities that other quarterbacks wish they had." The remarks were highlighted as part of a broader critique of Tagovailoa's production this season.

Tagovailoa pushed back on Thursday, saying on multiple platforms that criticism overlooks the challenges of quarterbacking a struggling team. "Well, anybody can play quarterback in this league then. I want to see anybody on the streets come and play quarterback," he said, adding that Newton is "doing his thing for sure" but that evaluating a quarterback from afar can miss the on-field realities of a season like this. He stressed that merely talking about film work does not equal performing under the pressure of NFL games.

Through three games this season, Tagovailoa has thrown five touchdowns and four interceptions, and his passer rating sits near the bottom of the NFL. Miami coach Mike McDaniel acknowledged the need for improvement but praised Tagovailoa's mental toughness amid the early struggles. "The game of a franchise quarterback is never just still. There are opportunities that he needs to take advantage of," McDaniel said. "There's also a ton of opportunities to turn the ball over that he hasn't taken. He's really answered the bell for 99% of the time. ... It's not an easy task to be in his shoes, but I'm very happy with where his mind is at and where his focus is at because if he was a weaker-minded individual, it's tough for any quarterback during any losing streak or any whatever."

Tagovailoa has one of the sport’s notable early-career resumes, including leading the NFL in passing in 2023 and becoming the 10th overall pick in the 2020 draft. The Dolphins, however, fell short of the playoffs in 2024 and have carried that disappointment into 2025, opening with three straight losses. The team will try to reverse course against the New York Jets, who enter Sunday’s game still searching for their first win this season.

The wider context remains that Tagovailoa has had a mix of high points and tough stretches in his career, and Miami continues to balance expectations with the realities of a changing league and a demanding schedule. The Dolphins’ next hurdle is to convert opportunities into points and minimize turnovers, a theme McDaniel highlighted as essential to the team’s fortunes this season. In the meantime, Tagovailoa’s leadership and mental approach will be scrutinized as Miami attempts to salvage a season that began under a bright title of potential but has faced immediate and persistent pressure from critics and competitors alike.

As the Dolphins prepare for the Jets, the quarterback room, coaching staff, and front office will be closely watched for changes in how the team handles adversity, builds week to week, and chases a return to postseason contention. The coming weeks will test Tagovailoa’s ability to translate offseason gains into on-field consistency and to respond to public scrutiny with tangible improvements on Sundays.