Tua Tagovailoa grateful Dolphins gave him ‘money’

Miami Dolphins midfielder Tua Tagovailoa took to the mic during Sunday’s practice to deliver a message that was essentially a celebration.

“Show me the money!” Tagovailoa exclaimed before thanking the fans for coming out.

Tagovailoa then continued to express his gratitude on the day he officially signed a four-year, $212.4 million contract extension with the Dolphins.

The deal makes him the highest-paid player in franchise history and the fifth-highest in NFL history in terms of average annual salary. In his post-practice press conference, the fifth-year quarterback said he understands that with his new salary comes the expectation of a deep postseason run.

“I’m the highest paid person in this office,” Tagovailoa told reporters. “I have to put it all together. I have to do the right thing and get our people moving in the direction that we need to be able to do those things.”

Before the two sides agreed to terms Friday, Tagovailoa was set to enter the final year of his rookie contract after a career year. He led the NFL in passing yards last season, totaled a career-high 29 touchdowns and started for the AFC in his first Pro Bowl appearance.

On Sunday, Tagovailoa said he knew it was official when coach Mike McDaniel and general manager Chris Grier stopped by the quarterbacks’ room, looked through the door and gave a silent nod. Then McDaniel squeezed his starting quarterback so hard that Tagovailoa spilled his coffee.

“I’m excited for the organization, really excited for Tua and the work he’s done to get something like this,” McDaniel told reporters on Sunday. “I think it’s definitely a great endorsement.”

With his family in attendance, including his 2-year-old son, Ace, running behind him, Tagovailoa spoke at length about his journey from a top high school recruit in Hawaii to playing college football at Alabama and then making it to the league.

Tagovailoa is best known for coming on at halftime in the College Football Playoff National Championship to lead Alabama to an overtime win over Georgia in January 2018. But his Crimson Tide career came to an abrupt end when he suffered a hip injury that kept him out for the rest of the season in 2019.

He was selected fifth overall in the 2020 draft, after Cincinnati Bengals Football Team midfielder Joe Burrow and a pre-selection Los Angeles Chargers midfielder Justin Herbertthose whose contracts were extended before the start of last season.

Tagovailoa said when he made his NFL debut in Week 6 of his rookie year, he was grateful to be on the field and never envisioned the nine-figure contract extension he signed Sunday.

“There were a lot of unknowns during the pre-season before I got drafted: ‘Can he play like that? Can he run? Can he move?’

“There was a lot of doubt, and going into it, I was just grateful that I got to play in the NFL.”

But despite reflecting on the past after officially signing the contract, Tagovailoa still acknowledged what was coming.

The Dolphins have made the playoffs each of the last two years but have been eliminated in the playoffs both times. Miami has not won a playoff game in 23 seasons, the longest active drought in the NFL.

McDaniel said Tagovailoa and the rest of the Dolphins accepted those expectations long before the team cemented his status as Miami’s quarterback of the future.

“To be honest, Tua has shown me throughout the season that he knows what time it is,” McDaniel said. “Fortunately, he and all of his teammates can go out and determine whatever narrative is being built around — through the way they play.”

After settling his contract before the start of the regular season, Tagovailoa said he was ready to lead the Dolphins to a Super Bowl run.

“We want to do what we can to help the team win more and win when needed,” he said.