The Miami Dolphins have confirmed that they have signed quarterback Tua Tagovailoa to a massive four-year contract extension, worth a record-breaking $212.4 million. This new deal, which comes with an average annual value of $53.1 million, makes Tagovailoa the third-highest-paid quarterback in the NFL, trailing behind Trevor Lawrence of the Jacksonville Jaguars and Joe Burrow of the Cincinnati Bengals. Included in the contract is $167 million guaranteed, which ranks eighth among all quarterbacks in the league. Reports of the extension were first made public by ESPN, citing Tagovailoa’s representatives at Athletes First.
Despite no official announcement from the Dolphins, a video featuring Tagovailoa was shared on social media by the team on Friday afternoon. The quarterback had been playing under his rookie contract after being selected as the fifth overall pick in the 2020 draft. Tagovailoa had been seeking a deal similar to the lucrative contracts signed by Burrow and Justin Herbert, both of whom were drafted in the same year and received extensions exceeding $200 million after their rookie contracts.
Throughout the negotiation process, Tagovailoa remained involved in the team’s offseason activities and took part in the initial days of training camp. He was a full participant in practice on Friday. Tagovailoa, who faced multiple concussions in his first three seasons in the NFL, managed to secure a significant pay increase with a successful and injury-free 2023 season, where he threw for 29 touchdowns and a league-leading 4,624 yards.
Following their playoff appearance last season, where they were eliminated in the first round by the eventual Super Bowl champions, the Kansas City Chiefs, the Dolphins are now aiming to end a 24-year playoff win drought. With this new contract extension, Tagovailoa is set to remain with the Miami Dolphins through 2028.
