\n<\/p>\n
The Miami Dolphins are to release quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, which will cost them a record dead cap hit of $99.2m (\u00a374.2m).<\/b><\/p>\n
The 28-year-old has been the Dolphins’ starting quarterback since 2020, when they drafted him with the fifth overall pick.<\/p>\n
He earned a four-year contract extension in 2024 worth $212.4m (\u00a3158.9m) and releasing him just two years into that deal will cost Miami the NFL’s highest-ever amount in dead money towards their salary cap.<\/p>\n
It will surpass the previous record of $85m (\u00a363.6m) when the Denver Broncos let Russell Wilson leave<\/a> in 2024.<\/p>\n “We are going to move in a new direction at the quarterback position and will be releasing him after the start of the new league year,” general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan said.<\/p>\n Tagovailoa has said he contemplated retiring after suffering two concussions during the 2022 season,<\/a> but returned to lead the league for passing yards in 2023, taking Miami into the play-offs.<\/p>\n That earned him a lucrative extension but two months later he was concussed again, and after some underwhelming form in 2025 he was benched for the final three games of last season.<\/p>\n Miami fired head coach Mike McDaniel in January, bringing in Jeff Hafley and a new general manager in Sullivan, and have opted to rebuild their roster too.<\/p>\n They released wide receiver Tyreek Hill<\/a> last month and have agreed to trade safety Minkah Fitzpatrick to the New York Jets.<\/p>\n Sullivan added: “As we move forward, we will be focused on infusing competition across the roster and establishing a strong foundation for this team as we work towards building a sustained winner.”<\/p>\n Tagovailoa is the second franchise quarterback to be moved on during the NFL’s free agency period after Kyler Murray.<\/p>\n Last week the Arizona Cardinals said they are releasing 2019’s first overall draft pick<\/a> after just one winning season from seven, four of which were disrupted by injury.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n