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In the NFL, gossip spreads like wildfire, and this time it's Tua Tagovailoa stirring the pot. The Miami Dolphins quarterback recently made headlines with his blunt criticism of former Dolphins head coach Brian Flores. Now, Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell, who brought Flores on board as Defensive Coordinator, is stepping in to defend his colleague.
During a recent appearance on "The Dan Le Batard Show" podcast, Tagovailoa didn't hold back when discussing his time under Flores. He accused Flores of demoralizing players by constantly pointing out their mistakes and making them feel inadequate.
In contrast, Tagovailoa praised current head coach Mike McDaniel, noting that McDaniel is more ive and motivational. "How would it make you feel listening to one or the other?" Tagovailoa concluded.
Flores spent three seasons in Miami from 2019 to 2021. After a brief hiatus, he ed the Pittsburgh Steelers as a linebackers coach in 2022 and became the Vikings' Defensive Coordinator in 2023 under O'Connell. Following Tagovailoa's comments, O'Connell didn't hesitate to come to Flores' defense.
O'Connell praises Flores despite criticism
Known for his calm demeanor and avoidance of controversy, O'Connell responded to Tagovailoa's remarks with grace. In a recent statement to ESPN, O'Connell refrained from directly addressing the Dolphins QB's accusations, but he did offer a strong endorsement of Flores.
"I don't particularly have a comment on something that took place with another team, or I don't like to comment on comments from other players on other teams, but I can just tell you I know that the players Flo works with, he's got great relationships here," O'Connell stated.
He added that the Minnesota press has had nothing but positive things to say about Flores. "I know [Minnesota reporters] have heard a lot of [players] talk about how much they enjoy playing for him, and how much I enjoy working with him every day, and that's all I can really comment on," the Vikings head coach concluded.
Tagovailoa and Flores: A rocky history
Tagovailoa ed the Dolphins as the fifth overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, but his journey with Flores was far from smooth. A lingering hip injury from his Alabama Crimson Tide days delayed his debut, forcing Flores to name veteran Ryan Fitzpatrick as the starter.
When Tagovailoa finally made his debut in Week 6, the Dolphins still finished the season with a disappointing 5-11 record.
Throughout their time together, chemistry between Flores and Tagovailoa seemed elusive. Despite their 13-8 record, Flores was ultimately fired in 2021. Since then, under McDaniel's leadership, Tagovailoa has flourished, even earning a Pro Bowl selection last season.