There was an unusual reaction in the NFL this week. Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, who represents a position not normally mentioned in the media, criticized former Dolphins head coach Brian Flores in a recent interview on “The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz” podcast.
Tagovailoa essentially accused Flores of ruining his confidence and being an unwelcoming figure compared to current Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel.
Tagovailoa has had the most statistical success of his career under McDaniel, even though the winning record has been virtually the same between the two coaches. This has sparked a debate about coaching styles, which doesn’t really have a right or wrong answer.
Flores has a different, tougher coaching style than the one McDaniel likes to put into practice with his players. McDaniel has come across as an eccentric and friendly personality and the Dolphins offense has flourished during the regular season under his tutelage. Based on the interview Tagovailoa had with Le Batard’s team, it’s clear that this is the coaching style he responds best to. No one can really speak to the specifics of the relationship between Tagovailoa and Flores, but painting Flores as a “terrible person” is something that can’t be taken back, and it’s probably the most candid thing you’ll ever hear a player speak about a coach currently working in the league.
Tagovailoa, now armed with the protection of being the highest-paid player in Dolphins history, spoke with conviction about how he felt treated. For those keeping track of the latest chapter in this dispute, Tagovailoa “won,” for what that’s worth.
Flores is now the Vikings’ defensive coordinator and has a pending lawsuit against the NFL for discrimination that could very well hurt his chances of ever being a head coach again. Tagovailoa is at the top of the mountain in Miami and won’t face any consequences for saying these things about Flores (nor should he, really). He’s free to say whatever he wants and this level of access should be welcomed by NFL fans.
Functionally, this is a matter of coaching styles. There have been players who responded positively to Flores’ approach. It would have been difficult to win 19 games in his final two seasons as Dolphins head coach without having some level of buy-in. However, his style was clearly too harsh for a player like Tagovailoa and it altered the way he felt he could perform. That’s the balance Flores failed to strike while with the Dolphins and it’s the coaching style McDaniel has largely moved away from. His approach is a bit softer and that (combined with the acquisition of Tyreek Hill and a new offensive system) has helped Tagovailoa succeed.
Flores had to answer for Tagovailoa’s comments and now everyone will move on. Flores will probably feel a little hurt by the words that were said about him, but maybe this reflection is what he needs as he begins another season as the Vikings’ defensive playmaker. And now, Tagovailoa needs to achieve some success on the field to live up to the contract he’s been given. That’s probably the best way to shed the weight of the previous era, and the best way to prove Flores wrong and show that he’s arrived as an elite quarterback.