Tua Tagovailoa Talks Leadership After $212M Dolphins Contract: 'Heavy Is the Crown'

Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa understands the pressure on him to play at a high level has only increased after he signed a four-year, $212.4 million contract extension during the offseason.

Speaking to ESPN's Marcel Louis-Jacques about his new deal, Tagovailoa explained "heavy is the crown" because of the pressure that comes with being the face of the franchise.

"I'm the highest-paid employee in this office," he said. "I've got to get my whatever together, I've got to get that right and get our guys moving in the direction that we need to go, to be able to do those things."

The contract made Tagovailoa the fifth-highest-paid quarterback in the NFL with a $53.1 million average annual salary.

Tagovailoa has always been a divisive player among NFL fans and analysts. His first two seasons were hampered by an organization in transition, though the Dolphins did go 13-8 in games he started.

Since hiring Mike McDaniel as head coach prior to the 2022 season, the Dolphins have had one of the most explosive offenses in the NFL. They became the first team to score at least 70 points in a game since 1966 when they defeated the Denver Broncos in Week 3 last season.

Tagovailoa led the league in passing yards (4,624) during the 2023 campaign. The next step for him is maintaining a high level of performance for an entire season and leading the Dolphins to a win in the playoffs.

The Dolphins went 30 games between wins over teams with a winning record from Week 3 of the 2022 season to Week 16 last season when they earned a 22-20 win over the Dallas Cowboys.

That streak included their loss to the Buffalo Bills in the 2022 AFC Wild Card game, though Tagovailoa didn't play in that game due a concussion.

In his first career playoff start against the Kansas City Chiefs in January, Tagovailoa finished 20-of-39 for 199 yards with one touchdown and one interception. Miami lost the game 26-7, scoring its fewest points in a game under McDaniel.

If Tagovailoa can stay healthy, the ceiling is extremely high for Miami's offense. He just needs to find the next level to his game to help the Dolphins win their first playoff game since December 30, 2000.