When the Miami Dolphins drafted quarterback Tua Tagovailoa earlier this year, the hopes and dreams of an entire fanbase were thrust upon him.
Many have already predicted that Tagovailoa will one day be the biggest sports star in all of Miami.
On Thursday, Tagovailoa reacted to the pressure of those expectations during a team presser via video chat.
"I understand that it's there," Tua says about franchise pressure. "But the main focus is just being able to get into my playbook, build relationships with the guys on the team and focus on what we've got to do inside the building."
— Safid Deen 💯💯💯💯 (@Safid_Deen) August 13, 2020
The humble and goal-oriented answer is far from surprising given Tagovailoa’s reputation.
Despite becoming one of the biggest collegiate stars in recent memory while playing at the University of Alabama, Tagovailoa always managed to maintain composure and focus on the success of his team before any personal accolades.
That approach has seemingly followed him to Miami. Tagovailoa spent much of his presser heaping praise on veteran quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick. He even sported Fitzpatrick’s No. 14 jersey during the presser.
While the pressure to succeed obviously looms over Tagovailoa, it does not appear that he is letting it get to his head.
For the upcoming season, Tagovailoa’s goals surely have to do with staying healthy, learning as much as he can and helping his team win in any way possible.
Ideally, NFL glory will be soon to follow.
