Longtime NFL safety and Super Bowl 37 MVP Dexter Jackson knows what a winning organization looks like, and he certainly doesn’t see it with Tua Tagovailoa, Mike McDaniel, and the Miami Dolphins.
Jackson blasted the Dolphins’ coach and quarterback in an interview with Betway, only days after Miami’s embarrassing Week 7 loss to the Cleveland Browns. Not only are the Dolphins 1-6 and facing a second straight losing season, but their playoff chances are next to none entering Sunday’s showdown with the Atlanta Falcons.
It’s been a rough few weeks for Tagovailoa, who leads the NFL in interceptions and has his lowest QBR (42.8) since his rookie season in 2020. The sixth-year quarterback has also come under fire for calling out his teammates for being late to or outright skipping players-only meetings.
“There are two things great players have to have,” Jackson explained. “Accountability and availability. Tua is not being accountable, and he’s not always available.
“In order to call people out,” Jackson continued, “you have to play better yourself. You can’t call people out if you’re not playing well.”
Tagovailoa is well on pace to set a career high in interceptions, and his 6.82% sack percentage is markedly up from the 4.95% he averaged from 2021-24.
Dexter Jackson Also Has Issues With Dolphins Coach Mike McDaniel
Remember when the Dolphins started 9-3 in 2023, giving Miami 18 wins in its first two seasons under McDaniel? What was only 22 months ago feels like 22 years ago, as the Dolphins have lost 18 of 29 — plus a 2023 AFC Wild Card Round defeat to the Kansas City Chiefs — in that span.
Although much of the blame has fallen on Tagovailoa and general manager Chris Grier, that doesn’t mean McDaniel will escape unscathed. Questions about his job security are quickly mounting, and Jackson is among those skeptical of McDaniel’s coaching skills.
“Honestly, I think McDaniel is a great offensive coordinator, but he is not a head coach,” Jackson said. “Not everyone is made to be a head coach. He’s a phenomenal offensive mind, but I think he’s trying to blend in and be friends with the players instead of leading.”
Considering that Jackson played for Super Bowl-winning head coaches Tony Dungy and Jon Gruden in Tampa Bay, we trust his input on what it takes to run a football team.
“In order to lead, you must have tough skin and be willing to take the bumps and the bruises,” Jackson advised.
It might be too late for McDaniel, Tagovailoa, and the Dolphins to right the ship. NFL Media gives the Dolphins less than a 1% chance to make the playoffs, tying them with the 1-6 Tennessee Titans and winless New York Jets. We’ll see whether a road loss in Atlanta convinces Dolphins owner Stephen Ross to make any changes, the first of which would likely be dismissing McDaniel.
