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 Week 9, 2025
Passing attempts: 2,308 Passing completions: 1,571 Completion percentage: 68.1% TD–INT: 115–55 Passing yards: 17,285 Passer rating: 96.7 Rushing yards: 469 Rushing touchdowns: 6

Tuanigamanuolepola Donny Tagovailoa (pronounced TUNG-oh-vy-LOH-uh), born on March 2, 1998, is a talented American football quarterback. He plays for the Miami Dolphins in the National Football League (NFL). Tua, as he is often called, first became famous playing college football for the Alabama Crimson Tide. He was even named the best offensive player in the 2018 College Football Playoff National Championship during his first year.

Later, in his second year, Tua won important awards like the Maxwell Award and Walter Camp Award. He led his team to another championship game. After his college career was shortened by an injury, the Dolphins chose him as the fifth overall pick in the 2020 NFL draft. He quickly became the main starting quarterback for the team. Tua has led the league in important stats, like passer rating in 2022 and passing yards in 2023. He also earned a spot in the Pro Bowl and helped the Dolphins reach the playoffs. He is known for his accuracy and high completion percentage in NFL history.

Tua Tagovailoa: A Football Star

Early Life and Football Dreams

Growing Up in Hawaii

Tua Tagovailoa was born in ʻEwa Beach, Hawaii. He is the oldest of four children in a Samoan family. From a very young age, Tua loved football. His parents even said he slept with a football every night! When he was just eight years old, playing in Pop Warner games, Tua could throw the ball over 30 yards. Most kids his age could only throw it about 10 yards.

His biggest inspiration was his grandfather, Seu Tagovailoa. Seu was a respected leader in their Samoan community. He believed Tua would become a football star. Tua would visit his grandfather after every game to share his progress. After Seu passed away in 2014, Tua thought about quitting football. But he and his father decided he could honor his grandfather best by continuing to play.

High School Success

Tua played high school football at Saint Louis School in Honolulu, Hawaii. In his first season, he threw 33 touchdowns and over 2,500 passing yards. He was very motivated by his father's coaching. In 2016, Tua was chosen for the All-American Bowl. He also became the MVP of the Elite 11 roster, which features the best high school quarterbacks.

Many people found his name hard to say. Tua often taught them the correct pronunciation, sharing a bit about his culture. He was considered one of the top high school players in Hawaii. He received 17 offers for college scholarships. Tua chose the University of Alabama because its friendly atmosphere reminded him of Hawaii. He also felt a connection to the church community there.

College Football Journey

Becoming a National Champion

As a freshman in 2017, Tua was a backup quarterback for Alabama. He got to play a lot in games where his team won by a large margin. In his first college game, he threw his first touchdown pass. Later, in the 2018 College Football Playoff National Championship, Tua came into the game in the second half. He led Alabama to a thrilling overtime victory against Georgia.

Tua threw the game-winning 41-yard touchdown pass. This helped Alabama win their 17th National Championship. He was named the Offensive MVP of that championship game. Tua said it was very important to him to make his home state of Hawaii proud.

Record-Breaking Seasons

Tagovailoa with Alabama in 2018.

In 2018, Tua became the starting quarterback for Alabama. He had an amazing season, throwing for many yards and touchdowns. He finished second in the voting for the Heisman Trophy, a top college football award. Tua won the Walter Camp Award and Maxwell Award, both given to the best player in college football.

He led Alabama to another championship game appearance. Tua also set a new record for passer rating in college football that season. His junior season in 2019 started strong with many great games. However, his season was cut short due to a serious hip injury and other health issues. In January 2020, Tua decided to enter the NFL draft. He finished his college career with several Alabama and NCAA records. He also earned a bachelor's degree in communication studies.

Starting His NFL Career

Drafted by the Dolphins

Tua was expected to be a top pick in the 2020 NFL draft. Despite his injury concerns, the Miami Dolphins selected him as the fifth overall pick. He was the first left-handed quarterback drafted by an NFL team since 2010. Since his college jersey number 13 was retired by the Dolphins for legendary player Dan Marino, Tua chose to wear number 1.

First Seasons in the NFL

Tua signed his first NFL contract in May 2020. He started his rookie season as a backup but soon became a starter. He made his NFL debut in Week 6 and threw his first touchdown pass as a starter in Week 8. In 2021, Tua became the Dolphins' main starting quarterback. He suffered a rib injury early in the season but returned to lead his team.

He helped the Dolphins achieve their first seven-game winning streak since 1985. Tua finished the 2021 season with over 2,600 passing yards and 16 touchdowns.

Overcoming Challenges and Leading the Team

Tagovailoa in a game against New Orleans Saints

Before the 2022 season, Mike McDaniel became the Dolphins' new head coach. He strongly supported Tua as the starting quarterback. In Week 2, Tua had a historic game against the Baltimore Ravens. He threw for a career-high 469 yards and six touchdowns. This performance helped the Dolphins make a huge 21-point comeback victory. He was named the AFC Offensive Player of the Week for this game.

Later in the 2022 season, Tua experienced head injuries. This led to a review and update of the NFL's safety protocols. He missed several games while recovering. Tua returned to play and finished the season with over 3,500 passing yards and 25 touchdowns. He led the league in passer rating that year. The Dolphins made the playoffs for the first time since 2016.

Leading the League in 2023

In March 2023, the Dolphins extended Tua's contract. He shared that he thought about stepping away from football because of the injuries he had faced. However, he returned stronger than ever. Tua started the 2023 season with an incredible performance against the Chargers. He threw for 466 yards and three touchdowns, earning AFC Offensive Player of the Week.

He continued his excellent play, earning AFC Offensive Player of the Month for September. In January 2024, Tua was selected for his first Pro Bowl. He finished the 2023 season leading the entire 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 achieved career-highs in touchdowns and completion percentage, starting every game and staying healthy all season. He made his playoff debut against the Chiefs.

Recent Seasons and Achievements

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

On July 26, 2024, Tua signed a big four-year contract extension with the Dolphins. He started the 2024 season strong, leading a game-winning drive in Week 1. In September 2024, Tua suffered another concussion during a game against the Bills. He was placed on injured reserve to recover and meet with medical experts.

After missing four games, Tua returned to practice in October. He stated he did not consider retirement after this concussion. He returned to play in Week 8 and continued to show his skill. In Weeks 12-14, Tua became the first quarterback to throw for over 300 yards and multiple touchdowns with no interceptions in three consecutive games. He joined Dan Marino as the only Dolphins quarterback to achieve this. On December 22, Tua threw his 100th career touchdown pass. He finished the 2024 season with 2,867 yards and 19 touchdowns in 11 games.

How Tua Plays the Game

Tua is known for his amazing throwing accuracy and gentle touch on passes, especially long ones. He is very good at seeing the field and avoiding defenders. His ability to run the "run-pass option" plays is a big strength. He also releases the ball very quickly, which helps his team's offense.

Coach Mike McDaniel uses Tua's quick thinking and decision-making skills. The Dolphins' offense relies on fast receivers like Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle. This allows Tua to develop even more as a skilled pocket passer.

Life Off the Field

Family and Heritage

Tua graduated early from high school and moved with his family to Alabama. He is an evangelical Christian. Tua married his wife, Annah, in 2022, and they have two children. Even though Tua is mostly right-handed, his father trained him to throw with his left hand as a child. He is one of the few left-handed starting quarterbacks in the NFL.

His younger brother, Taulia Tagovailoa, also plays quarterback. Tua has started practicing jiu-jitsu to help protect himself from injuries. He is also a big supporter of the Samoa national rugby league team.

Giving Back to the Community

In February 2021, Tua started the Tua Foundation. This nonprofit organization helps young people, promotes health, and supports other good causes. The foundation focuses its work in Hawaii, Alabama, and Miami. These are all places that have been important in Tua's life.

The foundation has given grants to organizations like the Police Athletic League and the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame. In 2020, Tua also created a $300,000 scholarship for his high school. In 2021, the Tua Foundation raised money to help families affected by a tragic car crash.

Sharing His Culture

Tua identifies as "full Samoan" and is proud of his heritage, even though he is from Hawaii. He looked up to other football players from Hawaii like Marcus Mariota. In 2018, after winning the National Championship, Tua returned to Hawaii for a celebration. He performed a traditional Samoan dance called a taualuga. This dance is a special way to mark a big achievement.

He wore traditional Samoan clothes and was joined by family. The money thrown at him during the dance was donated 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 Hawaii to learn about different cultures. In 2024, Tua worked with a clothing brand to create a line inspired by his island culture.

College Statistics

Professional Statistics

Regular Season Stats

Playoff Stats

Images for kids

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  Tagovailoa against the Patriots in 2021

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  Tagovailoa against the Falcons in 2021

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  Tagovailoa against the Titans in 2022

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