Mike McDaniel used one word to explain what he needs from the Dolphins’ QB — and it guarantees an entertaining offense for better or worse

Expect Miami’s offense to be entertaining one way or another on Sunday.

Kyle Crabbs — NFL National Writer

Dec 17, 2025 9:55 PM EST

The dust is still settling on the Miami Dolphins‘ rug pull at quarterback, with long-time starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa moving to the bench in favor of seventh-round rookie passer Quinn Ewers. The move, announced today, will give the Dolphins a chance to to see what their young quarterback can do while attempting to give a spark to the passing game.

The decision comes with a concession from head coach Mike McDaniel that the quarterback play “hasn’t been good enough”. But McDaniel also offered some more clarity on what he’s looking for with this change. And that fact that he has to ask for it at all is one of the biggest mysteries of the season for Miami.

Mike McDaniel is looking for “convicted” quarterback play from his starter

“This 2025 team needed me to make the decision solely for what gives us the best chance to win, that includes all players. I understand the pros and cons of all the different formats of the way I could play this out, but I need convicted quarterback play, this team needs convicted quarterback play. I thought Quinn gave us the best chance to do that and that’s why I did it.”

— Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel

“Convicted” quarterback play does not appear to be what Miami has got enough of this season. Whether it’s indecisiveness in the face of pressure, turning down primary reads, or otherwise, we’ve seen inconsistencies from Tagovailoa this season that would best characterized as “out of character” relative to his prior baseline and performance. The negative plays against Pittsburgh were glaring on multiple occasions.

But this was a quarterback who was described this past offseason as working on his “mastery” of the Dolphins’ offense. What we haven’t seen is anything closely resembling mastery. In fact, we’ve seen a regression in most phases of the position.

That isn’t to absolve the rest of his supporting cast and some faulty play designs from their hand in the issues. But Tagovailoa made a living early in the McDaniel offense from seeing and ripping throws early and using timing and accuracy to attack creases in the defense. That ability has faded and Tagovailoa has not looked himself for much of this season as a result — helping to fuel this change now that Miami is mathematically eliminated from the postseason.

McDaniel will get a chance to see Ewers test drive his offense. It will be a monumental moment for McDaniel — who has very clearly established a gauntlet for his rookie quarterback. See it, rip it. The entire mantra of Miami’s play amid their improvements in a 5-2 stretch of games has been to be less focus on perfection and more focused on the “conviction” of their play. Be fast. Be confident. Be physical. Don’t hover on the fine details. They’ll need Ewers to offer them the blissful ignorance of a rookie to make this work. Sometimes guys don’t know what they don’t know. And it can allow them to flirt with disaster.

Perhaps it’s a spark. Or perhaps that spark is actually a flame from flying entirely too close to the sun. But based on what Mike McDaniel stated he and his team needs and their belief that Ewers gives them the best chance to get it, we can expect one thing on Sunday against the Bengals. He’s going to let it rip.

Miami Dolphins News

Dolphins will reportedly sit Tua Tagovailoa, turn to rookie Quinn Ewers in a move that should weigh heavily on the final verdict of Mike McDaniel

Quinn Ewers is new sheriff in town for the Miami Dolphins.

Kyle Crabbs