MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — The Miami Dolphins have benched starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa following a 28-15 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday night that eliminated the team from playoff contention.

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The Dolphins will now turn to rookie quarterback Quinn Ewers, a seventh-round pick in the 2025 NFL draft, head coach Mike McDaniel confirmed Wednesday.

During a press conference, McDaniel said Quinn gives the team “the best chance to win” and confirmed that Zach Wilson will be the backup quarterback, while Tagovailoa will take on the role of the “emergency” third-string quarterback.

“I think it was the best for all parties involved — Quinn, Zach (Wilson) and Tua. All three quarterbacks understood my intent and motivation is concretely to do the best thing for the team," McDaniel said.

Tagovailoa has struggled this season, leading the NFL with 15 interceptions, a career high. He threw two touchdown passes to tight end Darren Waller on Monday night but both scores came with the game already in hand for Pittsburgh. He also took four sacks in the loss, including one from former teammate, defensive back Jalen Ramsey.

“It was a tough conversation and not an easy decision to make,” McDaniel said on benching Tagovailoa, “but the point was to make the hard decision and to never deviate on doing what’s best for the organization because that is what the team is expecting me to do.”

It’s tough timing for the Dolphins after the 27-year-old signed a 4-year, $212.4 million contract extension with the Miami Dolphins back in July 2024, securing him through the 2028 season, with roughly $167 million guaranteed.

Tagovailoa told reporters Wednesday that he was “disappointed” by the team’s decision to bench him but said he would help prepare Ewers to make his first start.

McDaniel also stated that Ewers understands the opportunity of being named the lead man.

“Quinn has a natural disposition of confidence. If you saw his face on draft day, he has the face of a competitor, and he is excited for the opportunity but understands what stepping into the role means,” McDaniel said.

McDaniel stated that he needed more “conviction from the quarterback position.” He added it would be “super irresponsible” to attribute Tagovailoa’s drop in play to hip injuries he suffered in college and last year in the NFL.

“I don’t coach with pessimistic forecasts,” McDaniel added. “I believe in the players on the team and my job is to react and respond, and when a change needs to be made, I take action.”

Tagovailoa is 44-31 as a starter and ranks second among Dolphins quarterbacks with at least 1,500 pass attempts in winning percentage, ahead of Dan Marino. However, he is 0-5 in games played in temperatures below 40 degrees and lost his only playoff start during his six seasons with Miami.

Miami drafted the Alabama product with the fifth overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft after decided to pass up on quarterback Justin Herbert, who was taken by the Los Angeles Chargers with the very next pick.

Tagovailoa carries a $56.4 million cap hit in 2026. Still, this move could mark the beginning of the end of the Tagovailoa era in Miami.

Ewers was the backup quarterback during the team’s Week 7 loss to the Cleveland Browns and saw limited action in that game, but for the most part has served as the Dolphins’ emergency quarterback.

Ewers will now make his first start on Sunday when the Dolphins (6-8) host the Cincinnatti Bengals (4-10).