Tua Tagovailoa facts for kids
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Tagovailoa with the Miami Dolphins in 2021
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| No. 1 – Miami Dolphins | |||||||||||||
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| Position: | Quarterback | ||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||
| Born: | March 2, 1998 ʻEwa Beach, Hawaii, U.S. |
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| 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 | |||||||||||||
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| Roster status: | Active | ||||||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics as of Week 18, 2024 | |||||||||||||
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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. In his first year, he was named the Offensive MVP of the 2018 College Football Playoff National Championship. As a sophomore, he won the Maxwell Award and Walter Camp Award. These awards are given to the top college football player. He also played in the 2019 College Football Playoff National Championship.
After a hip injury cut his junior season short, the Dolphins chose Tua fifth overall in the 2020 NFL draft. He started as a backup but became the main quarterback in 2021. In 2022, he led the league in passer rating. In 2023, he led in passing yards and was chosen for the Pro Bowl. He helped the Dolphins reach the playoffs in both seasons. Tua is known for his high completion percentage and career passer rating in the NFL.
Contents
Tua's Early Life and Football Journey
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! When he was eight, he could throw the ball over 30 yards, much further than other kids his age.
His main inspiration was his grandfather, Seu Tagovailoa, who was a respected leader. Seu believed Tua would become a football star. He asked Tua to tell him about every game. After Seu passed away in 2014, Tua thought about quitting football. But he and his father decided he could honor his grandfather by continuing to play.
When Tua started high school football at Saint Louis School, he quickly became a star. In his first year, he threw for 33 touchdowns and 2,583 yards. He said his father's strict discipline, like using a belt when he threw an interception, motivated him. In 2016, he played in the All-American Bowl. He was also named MVP of the Elite 11 roster, which features top high school quarterbacks.
Tua was a highly rated recruit for college. He chose the University of Alabama partly because its friendly atmosphere reminded him of Hawaii. He also felt a connection because of Alabama's church-going culture.
College Football Career
2017 Season: Becoming a Champion
As a freshman, Tua was the backup quarterback to Jalen Hurts for the 2017 season. He got a lot of playing time in games where Alabama was winning by a lot. In his first college game, he threw his first touchdown pass.
In the 2018 College Football Playoff National Championship, Tua came into the game in the second half. He replaced Jalen Hurts because the team was struggling. Tua led Alabama to a thrilling 26–23 victory over Georgia in overtime. He threw the game-winning 41-yard touchdown pass. Tua was named the Offensive MVP of the game.
2018 Season: A Record-Breaking Year
Tua became the starting quarterback for the 2018 season. He had an amazing year, throwing for many touchdowns and yards. He was so good that he finished second in the Heisman Trophy voting. This award goes to the most outstanding player in college football.
He won the Walter Camp Award and Maxwell Award, both for the top player in college football. Tua led Alabama to the 2019 College Football Playoff National Championship. Although they lost to Clemson, Tua set a new NCAA record for passer rating that season.
2019 Season: Injury and Leaving for the NFL
Tua started his junior season strong, throwing many touchdowns in early games. He continued to play well, showing his skill at passing.
However, his season was cut short by injuries. He had an ankle injury and later a serious hip injury during a game against Mississippi State. He had surgery for his hip.
In January 2020, Tua decided to leave college early to enter the 2020 NFL Draft. He finished his college career with many Alabama and NCAA records, including high passing efficiency. He also earned his college degree.
College Statistics
| Alabama Crimson Tide | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Games | Passing | Rushing | ||||||||||||
| GP | GS | Record | Cmp | Att | Pct | Yds | Avg | TD | Int | Rtg | Att | Yds | Avg | TD | |
| 2017 | 8 | 0 | — | 49 | 77 | 63.6 | 636 | 8.3 | 11 | 2 | 175.0 | 27 | 133 | 4.9 | 2 |
| 2018 | 15 | 15 | 14−1 | 245 | 355 | 69.0 | 3,966 | 11.2 | 43 | 6 | 199.4 | 57 | 190 | 3.3 | 5 |
| 2019 | 9 | 9 | 8−1 | 180 | 252 | 71.4 | 2,840 | 11.3 | 33 | 3 | 206.9 | 23 | 17 | 0.7 | 2 |
| Career | 32 | 24 | 22−2 | 474 | 684 | 69.3 | 7,442 | 10.9 | 87 | 11 | 199.4 | 107 | 340 | 3.2 | 9 |
Professional NFL Career
2020 NFL Draft and Rookie Season
Even with his hip injury, Tua was still a top pick in the 2020 NFL draft. The Miami Dolphins chose him as the fifth overall pick. He was the first left-handed quarterback drafted by an NFL team since 2010. Since the number 13 was retired by the Dolphins for Dan Marino, Tua chose to wear number 1.
Tua signed his first NFL contract in May 2020. He started the season as a backup to Ryan Fitzpatrick. He made his NFL debut in Week 6. In Week 8, he became the starting quarterback. He threw his first NFL touchdown pass in that game.
In Week 14, Tua threw for over 300 yards for the first time in the NFL. He also had a rushing touchdown. He earned the Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Week award twice in a row. The Dolphins missed the playoffs that year.
2021 Season: Leading the Dolphins
Tua led the Dolphins to a win in Week 1 of the 2021 season. In Week 2, he got a rib injury and missed some games. He returned in Week 6. The Dolphins had a tough start, with a 1–7 record.
However, Tua helped turn the season around. He came off the bench in a game against the Baltimore Ravens and helped the Dolphins win. He then led the team to a seven-game winning streak. This was their first such streak since 1985. He finished the season with 2,653 passing yards and 16 touchdowns.
2022 Season: Top Passer Rating
Before the 2022 season, the Dolphins hired a new head coach, Mike McDaniel. He strongly supported Tua as the starting quarterback.
Tua started the season well, winning against the New England Patriots. In Week 2, he had a career-high 469 passing yards and six touchdowns. This helped the Dolphins make a huge comeback win. His six touchdowns tied a Dolphins franchise record. He was named AFC Offensive Player of the Week.
In Week 3 and Week 4, Tua had injuries that caused him to enter the NFL's concussion protocol. This led to changes in the NFL's safety rules for concussions. He returned to play in Week 7.
Tua finished the 2022 regular 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 the League in Passing Yards
In March 2023, the Dolphins extended Tua's contract. He shared that he thought about retiring because of his injuries in the 2022 season.
Tua started the 2023 season with a great performance. He threw for 466 yards and three touchdowns in a win against the Los Angeles Chargers. He was named AFC Offensive Player of the Week for Week 1. He continued his strong play, earning AFC Offensive Player of the Month for September. He finished the season leading the NFL in passing yards.
2024 Season: Contract Extension and Continued Play
In July 2024, Tua signed a big contract extension with the Dolphins. He started the 2024 season well. In September, he suffered another concussion during a game. He missed several games to recover and meet with doctors. He returned to practice in October and stated he did not consider retirement.
Since returning, Tua has continued to play efficiently. He helped the Dolphins snap a losing streak. He also joined Dan Marino as the only Dolphins quarterback with three consecutive 300-yard passing games. In December, he threw his 100th career touchdown pass.
NFL Career Statistics
| Legend | ||
|---|---|---|
| Led the league | ||
| Bold | Career high | |
Regular Season Stats
| Year | Team | Games | Passing | Rushing | Sacked | Fumbles | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Record | Cmp | Att | Pct | Yds | Y/A | Lng | TD | Int | Rtg | Att | Yds | Y/A | Lng | TD | Sck | SckY | Fum | Lost | ||
| 2020 | MIA | 10 | 9 | 6–3 | 186 | 290 | 64.1 | 1,814 | 6.3 | 35 | 11 | 5 | 87.1 | 36 | 109 | 3.0 | 17 | 3 | 20 | 136 | 1 | 1 |
| 2021 | MIA | 13 | 12 | 7–5 | 263 | 388 | 67.8 | 2,653 | 6.8 | 65 | 16 | 10 | 90.1 | 42 | 128 | 3.0 | 23 | 3 | 20 | 152 | 9 | 1 |
| 2022 | MIA | 13 | 13 | 8–5 | 259 | 400 | 64.8 | 3,548 | 8.9 | 84 | 25 | 8 | 105.5 | 23 | 70 | 3.0 | 18 | 0 | 21 | 163 | 6 | 1 |
| 2023 | MIA | 17 | 17 | 11–6 | 388 | 560 | 69.3 | 4,624 | 8.3 | 78 | 29 | 14 | 101.1 | 35 | 74 | 2.1 | 9 | 0 | 29 | 171 | 13 | 5 |
| 2024 | MIA | 11 | 11 | 6–5 | 291 | 399 | 72.9 | 2,867 | 7.2 | 80 | 19 | 7 | 101.4 | 17 | 49 | 2.9 | 13 | 0 | 21 | 154 | 7 | 2 |
| Career | 64 | 62 | 38–24 | 1,387 | 2,037 | 68.1 | 15,506 | 7.6 | 84 | 100 | 44 | 97.9 | 153 | 430 | 2.8 | 23 | 6 | 111 | 776 | 36 | 10 | |
Playoff Stats
| Year | Team | Games | Passing | Rushing | Sacked | Fumbles | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Record | Cmp | Att | Pct | Yds | Y/A | Lng | TD | Int | Rtg | Att | Yds | Y/A | Lng | TD | Sck | SckY | Fum | Lost | ||
| 2022 | MIA | 0 | 0 | — | did not play due to injury | |||||||||||||||||
| 2023 | MIA | 1 | 1 | 0–1 | 20 | 39 | 51.3 | 199 | 5.1 | 53 | 1 | 1 | 63.9 | 3 | 25 | 8.3 | 14 | 0 | 2 | 11 | 0 | 0 |
| Career | 1 | 1 | 0–1 | 20 | 39 | 51.3 | 199 | 5.1 | 53 | 1 | 1 | 63.9 | 3 | 25 | 8.3 | 14 | 0 | 2 | 11 | 0 | 0 | |
Tua's Player Style
Tua is known for his very accurate passes, especially on longer throws. He is also good at sensing defenders and moving around in the pocket to avoid them. 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 big strength for him in college and early in his NFL career. He also throws the ball very quickly, which helps the Dolphins' offense. However, he has had several injuries.
Since Mike McDaniel became head coach, the Dolphins' offense uses Tua's quick thinking and decision-making skills. The team relies on fast receivers like Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle and quick plays. This has helped Tua grow as a pocket passer.
Tua's Personal Life
Tua graduated early from high school and moved with his family to Alabama. He is an evangelical Christian. He married Annah Gore in 2022, and they have two children, a son named Ace and a daughter named Maisey.
Even though Tua is mostly right-handed, his father taught him to throw a football with his left hand when he was a child. 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. Two of Tua's cousins also play football. In 2023, Tua started practicing jiu-jitsu to help prevent injuries, especially after his concussions in the 2022 season.
Tua supports the Samoa national rugby league team. He publicly cheered for them during the 2021 Rugby League World Cup.
Giving Back: Tua's Philanthropy
In February 2021, Tua started the Tua Foundation. This is a nonprofit organization that helps young people, health, and other good causes. The foundation focuses on places that have been important to Tua: Hawaii, Alabama, and Miami.
The foundation gave $50,000 in grants to different groups. These included the Police Athletic League of North Miami, Big Oak Ranch in Alabama, and the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame in Honolulu.
In 2020, Tua also created a $300,000 scholarship fund for his high school, Saint Louis School in Hawaii. In 2021, the Tua Foundation raised $93,000 to help cover funeral and counseling costs for children who were lost in a car crash at the Tallapoosa County Girls Ranch.
Hawaiian and Samoan Culture
Tua identifies as "full Samoan" even though he is from Hawaii. When he was growing up, he looked up to other football players from Hawaii.
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 often done to celebrate a big achievement. He wore traditional Samoan clothes. People threw money at him during the dance, and Tua donated it to his hometown church and youth football program.
Tua enjoys sharing his culture with his teammates. He took some of his Alabama teammates to explore the Polynesian Cultural Center in Hawaii. He felt it was a "good experience for them to see a good mix of cultures."
In 2024, Tua worked with a clothing brand to create a line of clothes inspired by his culture. He wanted to show how everyday clothing from his culture could be used in modern designs.
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
