Tua Tagovailoa pegs major reason for Austin Jackson's sharp turnaround
It was a big week for the Miami Dolphins' right tackle Austin Jackson, who signed a three-year, $36 million contract extension on Thursday morning. And there was apparently nobody happier than the man who's blindside Jackson is tasked with protecting. Tua Tagovailoa met with the media on Thursday afternoon, and the normally even-keeled veteran showed […]
It was a big week for the Miami Dolphins' right tackle Austin Jackson, who signed a three-year, $36 million contract extension on Thursday morning. And there was apparently nobody happier than the man who's blindside Jackson is tasked with protecting.
Tua Tagovailoa met with the media on Thursday afternoon, and the normally even-keeled veteran showed a lot of emotion regarding Jackson, his turnaround in 2023, and his new contract extension.
"That was awesome. Can we all give them a round of applause, please? Seriously, can we all give them a round of applause? I mean, I'm not saying you guys, but it could be you guys. The media, everyone wants to say whatever they want to say about Austin Jackson. But it's almost like a heroic story or something for how he's turned his career around within, you know, last year to up to this year, and all the things that [have] been said about him. I'm very proud of him. I know he's very happy. But out there at practice you wouldn't see it because of the person that he is. I'm sure his family is very happy for him. But, I mean, this dude just loves ball. He just wants to do anything and everything that he can do to help the team. And we're all happy for him. So that was awesome." – Tua Tagovailoa
Far better leadership has been a big reason for Jackson's renaissance
There's little doubt as to why the Jackson and Tagovailoa are both succeeding in 2023: Mike McDaniel. McDaniel's relaxed and personal approach with his players has clearly been a breath of fresh air for the locker room. Tagovailoa acknowledged as much on Thursday when talking about Jackson's turnaround.
"To sit in those meetings, have things told about you that, you know, aren't true, but they get planted in your head, and you have the media on you as well," Tagovailoa said. "And then you have someone like Mike and his coaching staff come in, and basically just build you back up. And it's not just Austin. It's really everyone that's been here for some time, and kind of gives you that renewed confidence in yourself to just go out there and be yourself and play the way you've played.
"That's why the organization chose you. You see the fruits of his labor. So I'm very happy for him."
A bond from the start
It's understandable why Tagovailoa has strong thoughts on Jackson. Both were first round draft picks of the Dolphins in 2020. Both have had to endure seemingly endless questions about whether they were the right pick. Jackson's job is to ensure the well-being of Tagovailoa.
They also, as Tagovailoa alluded to, had to deal with the critical nature and pervasive negativity under former head coach Brian Flores. According to former Miami QB Ryan Fitzpatrick, who was there with Tua and Flores, he was a broken player.
Again, Fitzpatrick was there with Tagovailoa and rotated at times with Tua, as Flores continued to detract from the young quarterback's confidence. If anyone would know about what Tagovailoa was going through, it would be Fitzpatrick, and he didn't mince words when talking about the effect that Flores had on his confidence. Apparently, according to Tagovailoa, that was the same case with Jackson.
Now, under McDaniel, both men are thriving and playing the best football of their careers as the Dolphins' offense performs week to week like the top unit in all of football. What a difference a head coach can make.
As such, there's plenty of reason for Tagovailoa to be thrilled for Jackson's turnaround. They both escaped a bad situation with an apparently terrible communicator and motivator in Flores.
Now, the sky is the limit for Jackson, Tagovailoa, and the Dolphins' offense in 2023 and beyond.
Dolphins’ Tyreek Hill can match an NFL record on Monday against the Titans
Hill can join an elite club on Monday
