In 2000, the Jay Fiedler and Lamar Smith-led Miami Dolphins bested the Indianapolis Colts in the first round of the playoffs with an epic 23-17 overtime victory.
Miami then headed to the hostile Network Associates Coliseum in Oakland, getting shut down by the Raiders 27-0. With Fiedler under contract for the foreseeable future, Miami had high expectations after an 11-5 season.
However, the Dolphins have not won a playoff game since that Winter day in 2000, with last season’s defeat to the Kansas City Chiefs extending a 24-year winless playoff drought.
Miami has done its due diligence this offseason in bolstering an already elite roster that won 11 games last year but fell to the eventual Super Bowl Champions on the road during Super Wild Card Weekend.
The Dolphins’ most significant move this offseason was offering quarterback Tua Tagovailoa a four-year, $212.4 million contract.
Tagovailoa will lead the Miami offense for years and is ready to return the AFC East club to postseason relevance. On Thursday, he spoke on SiriusXM NFL Radio about what it will take for Miami to end their two-and-a-half-decade winless playoff drought.
Miami Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa: Speaks 24-Year Winless Playoff Drought
Miami Dolphins Odell Beckham Jr
Jan 3, 2021; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Miami Dolphins Miami Dolphins Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (1) passes the ball against the Buffalo Bills during the second quarter at Bills Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports
The Miami Dolphins are committed to quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, inking the passer to a lucrative four-year deal late last month.
During an interview on SiriusXM NFL Radio on Thursday, the Alabama product did not mince words when speaking on the cultural change necessary for Miami to win its first playoff game since 2000.
🗣️ Tua Tagovailoa on what it will take to break the 24 year playoff win drought:
“It’s cool to be friendly… if you’re not helping me get to where we need to be as a team, we don’t need you, and if I can’t tell you that, get out. It’s plain and simple.” (@DolphinsTalk) #GoFins pic.twitter.com/YWrd1Ug4Xm
“It’s cool to be friendly. All cool. I think for us, I think that’s the step we took further this year as a team. I am able to look at you as my teammate, and I am able to tell you what you need to work on, and you are able to tell me the same thing. That’s it.
Big brother, little brother. Little brother, big brother. Accountability. That is why you create those relationships off the field so that you know where I am coming from. It’s all out of love.
It’s all of respect, but if you’re not helping me get to where we need to be as a team, we don’t need you. And if I can’t tell you that, get out. Plain and simple. That’s the mindset.”
“Everyone needs to feel that. Everywhere. I think, in my personal opinion, we have the guys we need right now to do all of that and go end this 24-year-old draft and get us to the Super Bowl.”
Tagovailoa preached accountability in the interview, emphasizing the importance of him and his teammates holding each other responsible for improving throughout the season.
Tagovailoa is one of the most improved players in the NFL since 2020, throwing for only 27 passing touchdowns across his first two seasons before accumulating 54 passing touchdowns in his last 30 starts.
Tagovailoa: Electric 2024 Season
Miami Dolphins
Oct 15, 2023; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (1) reacts after the game against the Carolina Panthers at Hard Rock Stadium.
Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports
Since hiring head coach Mike McDaniel, Tua Tagovailoa and the Miami Dolphins have housed one of the best offenses in football.
In 2022, Miami scored 23.4 points per game, the 11th-best mark in the NFL. The AFC East franchise finished in the top five in passing yards, touchdowns, and net yards per pass attempt.
Last season, Miami trailed only the Dallas Cowboys in terms of points per game, scoring nearly 30 points per contest.
Tagovailoa threw for an NFL-best 4,624 yards while tossing 29 touchdowns. Miami also led the NFL in rushing touchdowns and rushing yards per attempt. The duo of Raheem Mostert and De’Von Achane combined for 1,812 yards and 26 touchdowns.