Tua Tagovailoa, the Miami Dolphins quarterback, recently opened up about the stark contrast between playing under current coach Mike McDaniel and former coach Brian Flores. In an interview with "The Dan LeBatard Show," Tagovailoa shared that his confidence suffered significantly during his first two seasons under Flores, where he often felt he didn't belong as an NFL quarterback. Flores' coaching style led him to question his abilities, a mindset that McDaniel has been working to reverse over the past two seasons.

Under McDaniel's guidance, Tagovailoa's performance has improved dramatically, leading to a four-year, $212.4 million extension this offseason. McDaniel's belief in Tagovailoa, demonstrated by a 700-play highlight reel of his strengths shown upon McDaniel's hiring, has been crucial to the quarterback's resurgence. Since McDaniel's arrival, the Dolphins have maintained continuity in their coaching staff, which has allowed Tagovailoa to thrive, resulting in career-best performances and his first Pro Bowl selection.

Tagovailoa has largely avoided discussing his relationship with Flores since the coach's firing in 2022, expressing only gratitude for being drafted by the Dolphins. The team has faced Flores once since his departure, a game where Tagovailoa did not engage with his former coach. Meanwhile, Flores is now in his second season as the Minnesota Vikings' defensive coordinator, where his current players and colleagues speak highly of their relationship with him.

McDaniel, focused on the growth of his players, has refrained from reflecting on his success with Tagovailoa, instead emphasizing the ongoing development of the team. The difference in coaching philosophies between McDaniel and Flores highlights the significant impact that a coach's belief in a player can have on their performance and confidence.