Ryan Fitzpatrick Crises Tua Tagovailoa’s Treatment by Former Coach Brian Flores
There’s growing evidence that the coaching style of former Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores may have veered more toward abuse than positive coaching. Tua Tagovailoa, the quarterback, has spoken candidly about how Flores’ treatment undermined his self-esteem while he was employed. Tagovailoa frequently speaks of Flores without referring to him by name.
Austin Jackson, the starting right tackle, recently received praise from Tagovailoa for overcoming harsh criticism from Flores and his staff. During Prime Video’s “Thursday Night Football” pregame show, former Dolphins quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick—who both played and mentored Tagovailoa during his rookie season—offered a perceptive assessment of the dynamic between Flores and Tagovailoa.
Fitzpatrick suggested that both Tagovailoa and Mac Jones, the quarterback for the New England Patriots, were subjected to the “New England way” under Flores and Patriots head coach Bill Belichick. Fitzpatrick claimed that although Flores’ coaching style “broke” Tagovailoa, he underwent a metamorphosis while working with new head coach Mike McDaniel.
Fitzpatrick claims that McDaniel and his team gave Tagovailoa his confidence back, making him a strong candidate for MVP.
“Tua Tagovailoa, who I was with, Brian Flores — same New England way — he was broken (from) Brian Flores the way he treated him, the way that he coached him,” said Fitzpatrick. “And then what takes place? Enter Mike McDaniel. He gets his confidence back. After he gets it back, he is a strong contender for MVP.”
Regaining his confidence and being able to be himself as the team’s leader was made possible, according to Tagovailoa, by the arrival of McDaniel and his team.
“And then you have someone like Mike and his coaching staff come in and basically build you back up,” Tagovailoa stated. And Austin isn’t the only one. Everyone who has been here for a while is really what’s needed to [kind of] give you that renewed self-confidence to just go out there and play the way you’ve played.”
