Tyreek Hill urges Tua Tagovailoa to lead like Patrick Mahomes amid contract speculation

The Miami Dolphins ended their last season by collapsing in the playoffs, while their star quarterback, Tua Tagovailoa, had to face much backlash from NFL fans, especially after the Dolphins lost to the Kansas City Chiefs. Following the nightmare, the starter remained quick with a hefty contract demand that again left him in the hot seat of the fans.

As Tua is still vying to secure his job in Miami, teammate Tyreek Hill has stepped forward with candid advice for the quarterback as they prepare for the upcoming season.

Tua Tagovailoa needs to lead like Patrick Mahomes

Tyreek Hill recently engaged in a conversation on “The Pivot” podcast alongside former NFL players Channing Crowder, Fred Taylor, and Ryan Clark. The vet receiver shared his insights into quarterback Tua Tagovailoa’s demeanor in comparison to Patrick Mahomes during the session. 

At first, Hill mentioned the bonding that existed among him and his teammates during his tenure in Kansas City. He then noted that the Dolphins and Tua Tagovailoa are still in the process of developing similar bonds.

“That’s one thing our quarterback [Tua Tagovailoa] is going to add because, with Pat [Patrick Mahomes], we all had a relationship with Pat. Like, we’d all hang out. We’d all do stuff outside of football, and in Miami, we’re still building that. It hasn’t got to that yet.”

He then proceeded to encourage Tua Tagovailoa to demonstrate leadership qualities likewise to those displayed by Mahomes in the upcoming season.

“But I’m telling you, this year it’s going to get to that. We’re going to have some battles in there, already, but it ain’t been a battle where it’s like we can have a conversation, then we can come back the next play and be like, ‘Hey, bro, I think you should do that.’ It’s been, ‘(Expletive) you.’ And then I’ll talk to you later. You know what I’m saying? Or next week. And we don’t need that,” he said, per the Palm Beach Post.

Prior to offering advice to Tagovailoa, Hill made it evident that the top quarterback in the NFL is not the former Alabama star, but rather the back-to-back Super Bowl winner Mahomes. Hill spent several seasons with Mahomes in Kansas City before being traded to the Dolphins. During his time with Mahomes, Hill was part of the Chiefs team that secured a Lombardi Trophy in Kansas City.

Dolphins considering long-term contract for Tua Tagovailoa

The Dolphins are expressing a strong commitment to securing quarterback Tua Tagovailoa for the long term, aiming to ink a substantial contract extension, according to ESPN reports.

The 25-year-old is anticipated to land a lucrative contract, with an average annual value (AAV) exceeding 50 million dollars. After a playoff loss to the Chiefs, Dolphins General Manager Chris Grier revealed the team’s desire to see Tagovailoa perform at a high level under a prolonged deal.

Tagovailoa himself stated, his belief in the team’s decision, expressing optimism about the contract extension during an interview at the Pro Bowl Games in Orlando. He also deferred discussions about the contract to his agents and team management.

“I believe that will happen. But I’m gonna let my agents, gonna let you know Chris [Grier], Mike [McDaniel], let those guys talk about that and let them move forward accordingly.”

Under the guidance of Head Coach Mike McDaniel, he has experienced remarkable success on the field. Over the past two seasons, he has boasted a 102.9 passer rating, completing 67.4% of his throws and averaging 272.4 passing yards per game. During this period, he has thrown 54 touchdowns and 22 interceptions in 30 games.

As Tagovailoa enters the final year of his rookie contract, negotiations for a lucrative extension are underway, signaling another season for Dolphins fans to see the duo of Tagovailoa-Hill on the field.