Tua Tagovailoa facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Tua Tagovailoa

Tagovailoa with the Miami Dolphins in 2021
No. 1 – Miami Dolphins
Position:	Quarterback
Personal information
Born:	(1998-03-02) March 2, 1998 (age 27) ʻEwa Beach, Hawaii, U.S.
Height:	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight:	225 lb (102 kg)
Career information
High school:	Saint Louis (Honolulu, Hawaii)
College:	Alabama (2017–2019)
NFL Draft:	2020 / Round: 1 / Pick: 5
Career history
Miami Dolphins (2020–present)
Roster status:	Active
Career highlights and awards
Pro Bowl (2023) NFL passing yards leader (2023) NFL passer rating leader (2022) NFL completion percentage leader (2024) 2× Polynesian Professional Football Player of the Year (2022, 2023) CFP national champion (2017) CFP National Championship Game Offensive MVP (2018) Maxwell Award (2018) Walter Camp Award (2018) Sporting News College Football Player of the Year (2018) 2× Polynesian College Football Player of the Year (2018, 2019) Consensus All-American (2018) SEC Offensive Player of the Year (2018) First-team All-SEC (2018) Second-team All-SEC (2019)
Career NFL statistics as of 2024
Passing attempts: 2,037 Passing completions: 1,387 Completion percentage: 68.1% TD–INT: 100–44 Passing yards: 15,506 Passer rating: 97.9

Tuanigamanuolepola Donny Tagovailoa (born March 2, 1998), known as Tua Tagovailoa, is an American professional football quarterback. He plays for the Miami Dolphins in the National Football League (NFL).

Tua played college football for the Alabama Crimson Tide. He was named the Offensive MVP of the 2018 College Football Playoff National Championship in his first year. In his second year, he won the Maxwell Award and Walter Camp Award. He also played in the 2019 National Championship.

After a hip injury shortened his junior season, the Dolphins picked Tua fifth overall in the 2020 NFL draft. He started as a backup and then became the main quarterback in 2021. Tua led the league in passer rating in 2022 and passing yards in 2023. He was also chosen for the Pro Bowl in 2023. He helped the Dolphins reach the playoffs in both 2022 and 2023.

Early Life and Football Dreams

Tua Tagovailoa was born in ʻEwa Beach, Hawaii. He is the oldest of four children in a Samoan family. His parents said he loved football from a very young age. He even slept with a football under his arm every night.

When he was eight, Tua could throw a football over 30 yards. Most kids his age could only throw it about 10 yards. His main inspiration was his grandfather, Seu Tagovailoa. Seu was highly respected and called "Chief Tagovailoa."

Seu believed Tua would become a football star. He asked Tua to visit him after every game to share his progress. Tua thought about quitting football after Seu passed away in 2014. But he and his father decided he could honor Seu best by continuing to play.

High School Football Journey

Tua played varsity high school football at Saint Louis School in Honolulu. In his first season, he threw for 2,583 yards and 33 touchdowns. He only had three interceptions. Tua said his father disciplined him with a belt if he threw an interception.

In 2016, Tua played in the All-American Bowl. He threw for 2,669 yards and 27 touchdowns that season. He was also named MVP of the Elite 11 roster, which features top high school quarterbacks.

People often found his name hard to say. Tua helped them learn the correct pronunciation. He was a top high school player in Hawaii. He attended the same school as Heisman Trophy winner Marcus Mariota, who was a mentor to him.

Tua received 17 offers for college football scholarships. He chose the University of Alabama in January 2017. He felt Alabama's friendly atmosphere was similar to Hawaii. He also liked Alabama's church-going culture.

College Career Highlights

2017 Season: A Championship Start

As a freshman, Tua was the backup quarterback for Jalen Hurts. But he played a lot in games where Alabama won by a large margin. He made his college debut against Fresno State. He threw his first touchdown pass in that game.

In the 2018 College Football Playoff National Championship, Tua replaced Hurts in the second half. He threw the game-winning 41-yard touchdown pass in overtime. Alabama beat Georgia 26–23 to win their 17th National Championship. Tua was named the Offensive MVP of the game. He said he was proud to make Hawaii proud.

2018 Season: Becoming a Star

Tua with Alabama in 2018.

Tua became the starting quarterback for Alabama in 2018. He started the season with a strong performance against Louisville. He continued to play very well throughout the season. He threw for 387 yards and four touchdowns against Texas A&M.

After the regular season, Tua finished second in the Heisman Trophy voting. He won the Walter Camp Award and Maxwell Award. These awards go to the top college football player. He led Alabama to another National Championship game. However, they lost to Clemson 44–16.

Tua set a new NCAA FBS passer rating record of 199.4 for the season. This broke the previous record set by Baker Mayfield.

2019 Season: Injuries and NFL Decision

Tua started his junior season strong. He had great games against Duke and South Carolina. He threw for 444 yards and five touchdowns against South Carolina. He also had seven total touchdowns against Ole Miss.

He suffered a high ankle sprain in a game against Tennessee. He had surgery and missed the next game. Tua returned to play against top-ranked LSU. He threw for 413 yards and four touchdowns in a close loss.

Later, in a game against Mississippi State, Tua suffered a serious hip injury. He had to leave the game and needed surgery.

In January 2020, Tua decided to leave college early for the 2020 NFL draft. He finished his college career with many Alabama and NCAA records. He graduated with a degree in communication studies in August 2020.

College Statistics

Professional Career in the NFL

2020 NFL Draft and Rookie Season

Tua was expected to be the first player picked in the 2020 NFL draft. However, his hip injury caused him to be selected fifth overall by the Miami Dolphins. He was the first left-handed quarterback drafted since 2010. Since his college number 13 was retired by the Dolphins for Dan Marino, Tua chose to wear number 1.

He signed his first NFL contract for $30 million. Tua started his rookie season as a backup to Ryan Fitzpatrick. He made his NFL debut in Week 6 against the New York Jets. He became the starter in Week 8 against the Los Angeles Rams. Tua threw his first NFL touchdown pass to DeVante Parker.

He had his first game with over 300 passing yards against the Kansas City Chiefs. He threw for 316 yards and two touchdowns. He also had a rushing touchdown. Tua earned Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Week honors twice. The Dolphins missed the playoffs in his rookie year.

2021 Season: Leading the Dolphins

Tua in the 2021 NFL season: against the Patriots (left), against the Falcons (center) and against the Titans (right)

Tua led the Dolphins to a win over the New England Patriots in Week 1. In Week 2, he suffered a rib injury and missed several games. He returned in Week 6 against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Dolphins had a tough start, with a 1–7 record.

Tua then helped the Dolphins turn their season around. He led them to a seven-game winning streak. This was their first such streak since 1985. He finished the 2021 season with 2,653 passing yards and 16 touchdowns.

2022 Season: Top Passer Rating

Tua in a game against New Orleans Saints

The Dolphins hired Mike McDaniel as their new head coach in 2022. McDaniel strongly supported Tua as the starting quarterback. Tua started the season well, improving his record against the Patriots to 4–0.

In Week 2 against the Baltimore Ravens, Tua had a career-high game. He threw for 469 yards and six touchdowns. The Dolphins made a huge comeback, winning 42–38 after being down by 21 points. This was a historic comeback. Tua's six touchdowns tied a Dolphins franchise record. He was named AFC Offensive Player of the Week.

Tua faced several concussions during the 2022 season. This led to changes in the NFL's concussion rules. He missed several games due to these injuries. Despite this, Tua finished the season with 3,548 passing yards and 25 touchdowns. He led the league in passer rating and passing average. The Dolphins made the playoffs for the first time since 2016.

2023 Season: Leading in Passing Yards

On March 20, 2023, the Dolphins extended Tua's contract. Tua shared that he thought about retiring because of his injuries in 2022.

He started his fourth season strong. He threw for 466 yards and three touchdowns against the Chargers. He was named AFC Offensive Player of the Week for Week 1. In Week 3, he threw for 309 yards and four touchdowns against the Broncos. The Dolphins won 70–20. Tua was named AFC Offensive Player of the Month for September.

On January 3, 2024, Tua was selected for his first Pro Bowl. He was named the starting quarterback for the AFC team. He finished the season leading the league with 4,624 passing yards. This was the first time a Dolphins quarterback led the league in passing yards since Dan Marino in 1992. Tua also had career highs in touchdowns (29) and completions (388). He played every game in 2023, staying healthy all season.

Tua made his playoff debut against the Chiefs. He threw for 199 yards and one touchdown in a 26–7 loss.

2024 Season: Contract Extension and More Challenges

Tua Tagovailoa being interviewed by CBS Sports at Miami Dolphins training camp in July 2025

On July 26, 2024, Tua signed a new four-year contract with the Dolphins. It was worth $212.4 million. He started the season well against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

However, in a game on September 12, Tua suffered another concussion. This was his third diagnosed concussion in two years. He was placed on injured reserve and missed at least four games. He returned to practice on October 21 after medical experts approved it. Tua said he did not consider retirement after this concussion.

He returned to play in Week 8 against the Arizona Cardinals. He continued to play efficiently in later games. He completed over 70% of his passes against the Raiders and Patriots. He also threw seven touchdowns and no interceptions in those two games. Tua became the first quarterback to throw for over 300 yards and multiple touchdowns with no interceptions in three straight games. On December 22, Tua threw his 100th career touchdown pass.

NFL Career Statistics

Regular season

Postseason

Player Strengths and Style

Tua is known for his accurate passes. He can throw the ball far and precisely. He is also good at seeing the field and avoiding defenders. Some people call this his "Spidey-sense," like the superhero Spider-Man.

He is very good at running the run-pass option plays. These plays were a strength in college and early in his NFL career. Tua also has one of the fastest throwing times in the league.

Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel uses Tua's quick thinking in the team's offense. The Dolphins' offense relies on fast receivers like Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle. This helps Tua develop as a pocket passer.

Personal Life and Family

Tua in 2021

Tua graduated early from Saint Louis School. His family then moved to Alabaster, Alabama. Tua is an evangelical Christian. He married Annah Gore in 2022. They have two children, a son and a daughter.

Even though Tua is mostly right-handed, his father taught him to throw with his left hand. This was because his father wanted a left-handed son. Tua is one of only two starting left-handed quarterbacks in the NFL.

His younger brother, Taulia Tagovailoa, is also a quarterback. He plays in the CFL. Tua's cousins, Myron Tagovailoa-Amosa and Adam Amosa-Tagovailoa, also play football.

In 2023, Tua started practicing jiu-jitsu. He did this to help with the concussions he had in the 2022 NFL season. Tua supports the Samoa national rugby league team. He cheered for them during the 2021 Rugby League World Cup.

Giving Back: Tua Foundation

In February 2021, Tua started the Tua Foundation. This is a nonprofit group that helps young people. It supports health, wellness, and other good causes. The foundation focuses on Hawaii, Alabama, and Miami. These places have been important in Tua's life.

The foundation gave $50,000 in grants to three groups. These included the Police Athletic League of North Miami and the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame. In June 2020, Tua also gave $300,000 for a scholarship at his high school.

In August 2021, the Tua Foundation raised $93,000. This money helped cover funeral costs for eight young people. They were lost in a car crash. It also helped with counseling for the girls at the ranch who lost loved ones.

Hawaiian and Samoan Culture

Tua identifies as "full Samoan," even though he is from Hawaii. When he was young, he looked up to other football players from Hawaii. These included Marcus Mariota and Manti Te'o.

After winning the National Championship in 2018, Tua returned to Hawaii. He was celebrated at a Hometown Hero Parade. To celebrate, Tua performed a traditional Samoan dance called a taualuga. This dance is often done after a big achievement. He wore traditional Samoan clothes. He donated the money thrown at him during the dance to his church and youth football program.

Tua enjoys sharing his culture with his teammates. He took some of them to the Polynesian Cultural Center in Oahu. He wanted them to see different cultures. His teammates learned traditional Samoan chants.

In 2024, Tua worked with the clothing brand Perry Ellis. They created a clothing line inspired by island life. Tua used ideas from his culture to design the clothes.

See also

In Spanish: Tua Tagovailoa para niños

• List of National Football League annual passer rating leaders
• List of National Football League annual passing yards leaders
• List of National Football League career passer rating leaders