Miami Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa criticizes former head coach Brian Flores, calls him a ‘terrible person’

In a candid interview on Monday's "Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz," Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa described his former head coach Brian Flores as a “terrible person.”

Tagovailoa, now 26, contrasted Flores' coaching style with that of his current head coach, Mike McDaniel. “To put it simply,” Tagovailoa explained, “if every morning I told you that you were terrible at what you do, that you didn’t belong there, and that someone else was more deserving, how would that make you feel? Now, imagine someone else coming in and telling you the exact opposite— that you’re the best fit, accurate, and highly capable. Which would you believe?”

He continued, “Hearing negativity consistently can make you start to believe it, no matter who you are. Even the President of the United States would be affected by a constant stream of negative feedback. That’s what happened with us. It’s taken almost two years to overcome that mindset, not just for me but for other players who have been here since my rookie year.”

CNN has reached out to Brian Flores and the Minnesota Vikings, where Flores is currently the defensive coordinator, for comment. Flores was the Dolphins' head coach when Tagovailoa was drafted fifth overall in the 2020 NFL Draft.

The two spent two years together in Miami, during which Tagovailoa played 23 games, amassing 4,467 yards, 27 touchdowns, and 15 interceptions. Throughout this period, he struggled with injuries and inconsistency, and the Dolphins missed the playoffs in both seasons.

Flores was dismissed in January 2022 after three seasons with the team and was succeeded by Mike McDaniel. Under McDaniel, Tagovailoa has thrived. In McDaniel’s first year, Tagovailoa threw for 3,548 yards, 25 touchdowns, and eight interceptions in 13 games. Despite missing four games due to concussions, he earned his first Pro Bowl selection.

Last season, Tagovailoa started all 17 games for the first time in his career, leading the NFL with 4,264 passing yards. He completed 69.3 percent of his passes, threw 29 touchdowns, and had 14 interceptions. Under McDaniel, the Dolphins made the playoffs in both seasons.

Although Miami has been 0-2 in the postseason over the past two years, Tagovailoa's development has been clear. He was rewarded last month with a four-year contract extension reportedly worth $212.4 million.

On Monday, Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell defended Flores, saying, “I don’t have much to comment on regarding matters from another team or the comments of players from other teams. However, I can say that Flores has great relationships with the players he works with here. Many players have spoken highly of him, and I enjoy working with him daily. That’s all I can really say on the matter.”