Read the full transcript from Tua Tagovailoa's press conference on September 25, 2025.
Q: Head Coach Mike McDaniel said earlier today that there are opportunities that you need to take advantage of. What do you think about that?
"I think every game we have opportunities to take advantage of. It's just about seeing it right; it's just about going about that process in the right way. Sometimes you can't always take those opportunities, or those shots, or whatever it is, off of the play based on what the defense is doing. If they pressure, if there is pressure, you've got to make a quick decision and get the ball out to your eligibles. In that, regard yes, and we're trying to take those opportunities when they come."
Q: Is that consistent with what you saw on film from the Buffalo game? There was a lot of conservative decisions, checkdowns. Were there opportunities to go down the field or were you content with a lot of taking what the defense gave you?
"I would say definitely content with what they were giving us. You can see as long as we're giving the ball to our eligibles and them getting the ball in space one on one with those guys or whoever it is defensively, we like those matchups."
Q: You've had your fair share of winning streaks and losing streaks in your time here. How do you maintain the even-keel bounce-back when you've lost a few in a row?
"I think some has to come from the foundation that you rely on. For me my faith, I have my family as well, and then I think it's transitioning that to some of the players based on what they feel their situation is as well. As a leader, that's our job to be able to help the guys where they're at, bring them along on this journey. It's a part of the NFL. Obviously you don't want to lose three of the first games, and you can see that a lot of the younger guys are still trying to find their way through the season, through whatever this is with these losses. But as long as they see you, who you are, you give them perspective and you keep going, they're going to follow."
Q: How would you describe the level of urgency then as you can't afford to have 0-3 turn into 0-4 especially 0-3 in the division with two losses at home to the Patriots and Jets?
"Exactly what you said; we can't start 0-3 (in the division), nonetheless, we don't want to start 0-4. We're doing all we can to prepare all the guys that are needed to go in there – defensively, offensively – that's kind of what we're trying to hone in on and big on the trust factor, trusting the guys next to you, trusting that they are going to do their job and all you have to do is focus on yours."
Q: How much does the 1-7 start in Brian Flores' final season and last season rebounding from the tough start, how do you think you can build off of those things?
"I would say when we went 1-7, the look of the team was totally different than the team we have now. I think for that season, it was just, man, we're just going to grind this out and we're going to have to keep going. If we keep going, maybe we give ourselves a chance, maybe we give ourselves an opportunity. But I don't feel we're that deep yet into the season where guys need to start panicking. It's more so all right, we need to settle down, figure this out, talk to each other, talk through things, and when we get out there, this thing needs to look crisp. Like I said we're trying to find ways where we can eliminate the gray both offensive and defensively, so we can just go out there, just play fast, play physical and just play football. Play the football that we know we can play."
Q: When you think about the first three games that you've played so far this season, how would you describe how it's gone, how you've played?
"I haven't played anywhere near the standard that I've played in years past knowing the standard that I can play to. It starts with me with the offense getting our guys going and then the defense being able to feed off of that as well. I wouldn't say I've been playing my best football yet."
Q: You've talked about how important it is for you to stay on the field and be available for the team. How does that at all affect your processing or your decision making on the field? Especially you know if the play breaks down, you have to make a split-second decision?
"As a competitor, I think that's always tough because the decisions are made in split seconds where you're going to dive, or slide, or whatever that looks like to get a first down, or to try to manage the style of play where, OK, this might be one of those where I got for it, but do I? Do I not? That's kind of what I'm getting to is like the split decisions, and I would say I've leaned more on being able to protect myself. If we're going to go for it on fourth down, we go for it on fourth down. If I can get as much as I can and get down and we get a first down, that's good as well. But I would say it's really just get down every time."
Q: You're known though for your quick delivery. Do you find yourself even having to speed up your processing even more than you have in years past?
"I wouldn't say I've had to speed up my process that much quicker, but then as we're going through progressions, seeing where guys are going to be, where they're supposed to be, that can speed up getting to the later person in the progression."
Q: I saw someone posted highlights from your Alabama career on social media. Do you ever look back at that and in what ways do you feel like you're different now?
"Well, in Alabama, I didn't have a wife, I didn't have two kids, so I can tell you that's different. (laughter)"
Q: What about the football stuff?
"The football aspect of it, as I look back at Alabama and then as I was getting ready to come to the NFL, I think one of the biggest changes and differences that I felt would've been some of the surgeries that I've had that I can kind of feel some of the residuals within my ankles. I was running a little different when I was at Alabama, it's just not the same. I think that's normal given the surgeries and everything that comes with the sport."
Q: You're undefeated in starts against the Jets. How much, if any, of that can translate with this new Jets team coached by Aaron Glenn?
"I don't think any of it translates. None of the wins from last year can translate to this year and vice versa. So we've got to go out, this is a new scheme team but we've seen this scheme before. For the most part, same players, some changes in the backend. We'll get a gauge on what they want to do on Monday night and we'll go from there."
Q: Going back to kind of the urgency for this week, what have you seen or heard that might be different from the guys in terms of attitude or mentality that could result in a different outcome this week?
"I think in a way the guys look at it as we're kind of tired of talking about it, we've got to do something about it. We've got to be able to show what we've been talking about throughout training camp, throughout OTAs because all of that is not translating to stacking wins for us. I think that's what the gist of this game is, let's go out there, show the kind of football we can play, stack a win in the win column and we can move from there."
Q: I think it was the Jets game you talked about a pass to WR Tyreek Hill where basically you told him you were going to go to him no matter what and then he's got to make it right. How much of that was how you played in 2022 and 2023 and what's preventing you from playing like that more now? Is it the coverages or?
"I would definitely say the coverages. There's been some instances where, all right it's going to be two-high, we know it's going to be two-high and if it isn't, even better. But if it's two-high, we know you're going to run past the corner. It's you and that safety, you've got to make it right on that. So it's one of those. A lot more in '23 than it has been in '24 and this year."
Q: How much do you think people who criticize and scrutinize your play do it not just from the film but through the lens of your current contract? In your opinion, is that a factor?
"I'm not too sure."
Q: In other words, they don't just say, "QB Tua Tagovailoa threw an interception." They say, "Threw an interception and he makes $53 million," because they do. They always say it. I heard Cam Newton say it the other day.
"Well anybody can play quarterback in this league then. I want to see anybody on the streets come and play quarterback. Cam (Newton) is doing his thing for sure, but I think it's easier to be able to hold a clicker and talk about it that way or talk about what someone else is doing wrong when you're not going out and having to do the same as them. I think it's easy to do that, I think anybody can do that. I don't think anybody can play quarterback."
Q: What do you feel when you're playing in a prime time game?
"That's a blessing. It's cool. A lot of teams aren't playing, so you know it's like around the league, those guys want to see what the Dolphins are doing, what the Jets are doing. I know we have another game going on as well, but it's an opportunity for those guys after a game on Sunday like, 'Oh, let me turn on the TV. As I'm watching my own film, let me see what these guys are doing,' or whatever that may look like."
Q: Do you like that rivalries uniform?
"I think it's dope. I don't think anything of it too much, but I think it's dope."
