Dolphins' Tua on giving Brian Flores game ball: It was 'thank you for taking a shot on me'

Moments after leading the Miami Dolphins to a comeback victory in his second career NFL start, Tua Tagovailoa showed his appreciation for a coach who believed in him as his rookie season begins to take shape.

Before doing a postgame interview on the field, Tagovailoa handed Brian Flores the game ball, insisting the second-year Dolphins coach who named him starter and had a hand in drafting him fifth overall earlier this year, own the keepsake.

“I saw Flo, and Flo was waiting, and I had the game ball. And when I went up to him, it was just one of those, I don’t know, for me, it was ‘thank you for taking a shot on me,’ “ Tagovailoa said Wednesday about the heartfelt interaction captured by NFL Films after Miami’s win over the Arizona Cardinals last Sunday.

“Like I said a year ago, who would’ve known? I could’ve had a (career)-ending injury, but the Miami Dolphins decided to take a chance on me. That was awesome.”

Tagovailoa, the Dolphins’ top pick two starts into his NFL career, was quite introspective and somber Wednesday during his weekly Zoom press conference.

Nov. 16 will mark a year since he suffered his gruesome hip dislocation and posterior wall fracture that crushed his potential to be the No. 1 pick in the 2020 draft and clouded his NFL future.

Tagovailoa will be past his third NFL start when that day comes on Monday, as he prepares for Sunday’s Week 10 matchup against fellow rookie quarterback Justin Herbert and the Los Angeles Chargers at Hard Rock Stadium.

But it’s only natural for Tagovailoa — who flashed his full arsenal of throws, pocket roll outs and juke moves as a runner while leading Miami’s comeback at Arizona — to be contemplative about his arduous path to becoming the Dolphins’ starter.

Tagovailoa was lackluster in his first career start which was against the Los Angeles Rams, but he shined by completing 20-of-28 passes for 240 yards and two touchdowns, including a game-tying throw in the fourth quarter of the 34-31 win.

While Tagovailoa flashed some of the brilliance he displayed at Alabama in the comeback win, he also insists he is far from the player he was simply because of the injury.

“Oh, man. I don’t know if I’ll ever be my old self,” Tagovailoa said. “You know because when something dramatic like that happens … it’s just a continuous process for me. Continuing to focus on what I need to do to continue to strengthen the muscles around my hip. And just continue to stay on rehab.

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“But I mean its’ been a journey. It’s been a journey,” he said. “Looking back at that whole process. Literally almost a year from now, we were making a decision to decide if I was going to be able to play again or not, so I’m just blessed to be here.”

Tagovailoa’s thoughts initially after the Alabama standout suffered the hip injury against Mississippi State last year was logically on the future of his playing career.

And as the 2020 draft approached earlier this year, all Tagovailoa could do was digest the conversation around his health and potential to play and last as an NFL quarterback.

Still, the Dolphins — led in their rebuilding process by Flores and general manager Chris Grier — took a chance on him.

That’s what made giving the game ball to Flores so special to Tagovailoa after the Cardinals win.

“Hey, great job,” Flores said while hugging Tagovailoa in the viral video clip captured by NFL Films.

“Hey, this is for you,” Tagovailoa said, giving Flores the football.

“Nah, this is for you,” Flores responded quickly.

“No, no, no, no,” Tagovailoa said to Flores. “Thank you.”

“I appreciate you,” said Flores, who took the football and headed back into the locker room.

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