Former Dolphins HC Brian Flores Responds to Tua Tagovailoa’s Harsh Comments

The Miami Dolphins were a much different team before head coach Mike McDaniel came to lead the team. Before McDaniel, the Dolphins were led by Brian Flores from the 2019 to 2021 seasons.

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Though Flores had success with the team, his relationship with franchise quarterback Tua Tagovailoa reached a point of contention that has been well-documented. For the first time since the pair worked with one another, Tagovailoa went deep into the relationship he had with Flores, stating the former head coach constantly berated him.

Read more: Dolphins’ Tua Tagovailoa Finally Reveals Brutal Details of Brian Flores’ Treatment

Tagovailoa joined “The Dan Le Batard Show” to detail what Flores said to him through two seasons, stating:

“To put it in simplest terms. If you woke up every morning and I told you that you suck at what you did, that you don’t belong doing what you do, that you shouldn’t be here, that this guy should be here, that you haven’t earned this right, and then you have somebody else come in and tell you, ‘dude, you are the best fit for this, you are accurate, you are the best…’

“How would it make you feel listening to one or the other? You see what I’m saying? You hear it, regardless of what it is, the good or the bad. You hear it more and more, you start to actually believe that. I don’t care who you are, you can be the President of the United States. You have a terrible person telling you things that you don’t want to hear, or that you probably shouldn’t be hearing, you are going to start believing that about yourself.”

Naturally, this revelation sent shockwaves through the NFL, prompting a response from Brian Flores on Tuesday.

Jordan Dajani of NFL CBS Sports shared the video of Flores’ response. Though Flores could have gone multiple ways in his response, he took the high road.

“Specific to the comments that were made by Tua. I just want to say that I am genuinely happy for the success that Tua has had. I really wish him nothing but the best. I think player relationships are very important to me. I think that is the foundation for coaching. I got into coaching because I was impacted as a young man by my high school coach and my college coach … I got into coaching because I want to make that same kind of positive impact.”

Flores begins by stating that he is happy for the success that Tua has had in the league and immediately follows that up by stating how much coaching means to him as an individual.

Flores and Tagovailoa clearly had a much different opinion of the situation that occurred, but Flores sounds as if he is a bit regretful in how he was portrayed by Tagovailoa. An additional video also details that this situation led to a lot of “reflection” from Flores, and offers an opportunity for him to be “better” moving forward.

Flores is currently the defensive coordinator for the Minnesota Vikings, and though he has responded to Tagovailoa’s comments, he also indicated he is focused on the Vikings.

Tagovailoa has flourished in the league since Flores exited the Dolphins team. Whether or not that directly correlates to the comments he made, at least the pair are not having to deal with one another any longer.