Retired Dolphins Star Ignites NFL Firestorm: ‘Tua Is the Next Drew Brees — Deal With It!.
Retired Dolphins Star Ignites NFL Firestorm: ‘Tua Is the Next Drew Brees — Deal With It!.
In the world of professional football, comparisons are inevitable. But when a former NFL player draws a parallel between an active quarterback and a first-ballot Hall of Famer, the conversation becomes more than just sports talk — it becomes headline news.That’s exactly what happened this week when Richie Wagner, a recently retired and widely respected former Miami Dolphins offensive lineman, once again stood by his now-viral comparison between Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and legendary New Orleans Saints signal-caller Drew Brees.
“I meant it the first time, and I’ll say it even louder now,” Wagner said during an appearance on The Morning Blitz, a nationally syndicated podcast hosted by ex-NFL fullback Lorenzo Hall. “Tua’s got that Brees DNA. I protected him, I studied him, and I watched the way he works. If you can’t see it, you’re either not watching close enough or you’re letting bias cloud your judgment.”
The Origins of a Controversial Comparison
The original remarks came during a May segment on WQAM 560 Sports Radio, when Wagner — known during his playing days for his candor and cerebral approach to the game — likened Tagovailoa to Brees in terms of pocket awareness, accuracy, and mental processing. The comment immediately stirred debate across the NFL media ecosystem. While some dismissed it as hyperbole, others saw merit in the observation, especially as Tagovailoa continues to develop under head coach Mike McDaniel’s precision-based offense.
“I know Drew personally,” Wagner said Monday. “Played against him. Watched film of him for years. And I’m telling you, the way Tua sees the field, how fast he gets the ball out, how surgical he can be — it’s eerily similar.”
By the Numbers: More Than Just Talk?
While comparisons to a Super Bowl MVP and the former all-time passing yards leader may seem lofty, Wagner isn’t alone in noting Tagovailoa’s statistical and stylistic growth.
In the 2024 season, Tagovailoa led the league in completion percentage (71.2%) and posted a career-high in touchdown passes (34) while guiding Miami to an 11–6 record and a second consecutive playoff berth. Though the team fell short in the Wild Card round, Tagovailoa’s command of the offense earned praise from analysts — and reportedly impressed team leadership, who are now in active talks with his representatives about a long-term extension.
“Tua’s not there yet — nobody’s saying he is Drew Brees right now,” Wagner clarified. “But Brees didn’t become Brees overnight either. He didn’t win his first playoff game until his sixth season as a starter. Tua’s tracking in the right direction, and people need to stop moving the goalposts on him.”
A Divided NFL Community
Wagner’s remarks have drawn both support and skepticism from the NFL community. Former Dolphins wide receiver and current NFL Network analyst Brandon Marshall tweeted: “Richie ain’t lying. If you’ve been in that huddle with Tua, you know the guy is different. Precision passer, tough as nails. Let the haters talk.”
But not everyone is sold. ESPN analyst and Super Bowl champion Ryan Clark responded on Get Up! Tuesday morning, saying, “It’s a nice compliment, but we need to slow down. Brees was elite for over a decade. Tua’s still working on consistency, especially against top-tier defenses. It’s not hate — it’s reality.”
Social media, predictably, was ablaze with hot takes, memes, and highlight comparisons. A side-by-side reel of Brees and Tagovailoa running near-identical slant routes with perfect timing went viral, racking up over 3 million views within 24 hours.
The View Inside the Locker Room
Within the Dolphins organization, Wagner’s comments haven’t gone unnoticed. Though the team declined official comment, a high-ranking team source told The Herald that the front office “appreciates the confidence former players have in Tua” and that contract negotiations remain “productive and ongoing.”
A current Dolphins offensive player, who spoke anonymously, said Wagner’s take wasn’t surprising. “We all see it. Tua’s sharp, accurate, humble — he’s a leader. He’s the guy we follow. If he gets the kind of support Drew [Brees] had in New Orleans — coaching, stability, healthy weapons — there’s no ceveryone
The Road Ahead for Tua
Now entering his fifth NFL season, Tagovailoa finds himself at a crossroads: a rising star in search of playoff success, contract security, and the kind of national respect that remains elusive despite his on-field production.
Wagner, for one, believes that respect is coming. “You’ll see it this year. He’s dialed in. He’s past all the noise, all the concussion questions, all the arm strength critiques. He’s about to make believers out of everyone.”
For Dolphins fans, the 2025 season may not just be about winning games — it could be about watching a quarterback take the final steps toward greatness. And if Wagner’s words prove prophetic, the NFL world may look back at this moment not as exaggeration — but as foresight.