In a saga that refuses to fade away, it emerged on Tuesday that Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (or possibly his representative) purportedly delivered an ultimatum to the Dolphins management after the 2021 season, declaring it was a choice between him or then-head coach Brian Flores.

This compelled the organization to decide on their future direction. Omar Kelly from the Miami Herald reported the news on Twitter (X) Tuesday, clarifying that Tua didn’t directly cause Flores’ dismissal; rather, he (or his agent) presented the Dolphins with a choice, leading them to opt for Tua over Flores.

Flores, who coached the Dolphins for three seasons, achieved a 24-25 record. In 2021, the team finished 9-8 but did not qualify for the playoffs. On February 1, 2022, Brian Flores initiated a lawsuit against the NFL, the Miami Dolphins, Denver Broncos, and NY Giants, alleging racial discrimination.

As of March 1, 2023, the case remains in arbitration with no resolution in sight. After his departure from Miami, Flores served as an assistant coach with the Pittsburgh Steelers and is currently the defensive coordinator for the Minnesota Vikings.

Although Tua’s performance has seen improvement since Flores’ exit, he has yet to meet the expectations of being the 5th overall pick in the 2020 NFL draft, having played in just one playoff game and missing numerous matches, particularly post-Flores. Since Flores’ departure, Tua has not spoken favorably of his former coach, even recounting multiple anecdotes on the Dan LeBatard Show last summer that cast Flores in a negative light.