Tua Tagovailoa excited about Dolphins’ offseason, talks progress in workouts at charity luau event

HOLLYWOOD — There’s an abundance of excitement surrounding the Miami Dolphins in the midst of an offseason where, among other acquisitions, they brought in coveted defensive coordinator Vic Fangio and star cornerback Jalen Ramsey as they come off their first playoff appearance in six years.

Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is certainly feeling the organization taking another step as he heads into a fourth season and second under coach Mike McDaniel and his offense.

“I’m very excited,” a cheerful Tagovailoa said while sporting a new mustache at his second-annual “Luau with Tua” event, benefitting his foundation Monday evening at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood.

“I think our entire team is excited to get back out there, get to meet a lot of the newer guys. A lot of the newer guys getting to meet a lot of the guys that have been in this system for a whole year now.”

Tagovailoa, listed at 6 foot 1, 217 pounds last season, has noticeably gained muscle in the months since Miami’s 2022 season ended in a wild-card round playoff loss at the Buffalo Bills on Jan. 15.

“Offseason training’s been good,” Tagovailoa said. “Been working on strength in many areas and been chipping away at things that I felt like I needed to work on to get to where I feel I can get to in the later parts of the season.”

Part of Tagovailoa’s offseason workouts have included jiu-jitsu lessons to better protect himself against blows to the head after two separate diagnosed concussions caused him to miss 5 1/2 games in 2022, including the Dolphins’ playoff loss in Buffalo.

While Tua’s luau involves a number of themes to Tagovailoa’s Polynesian and Samoan culture, Tagovailoa joked that jiu-jitsu would not be incorporated into the on-stage festivities.

Tagovailoa was in a joyful mood speaking to reporters before his charity event.

“I’m smiling a lot more,” he said of how he feels now compared to the same time last year.

The Dolphins begin their offseason workout program a week from Monday with organized team activities slated to start in late May.

This story will be updated.