If you ask NFL veteran offensive tackle Chris Hubbard how he’d handle protecting Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, he won’t just tell you about blocking assignments or footwork. For Hubbard, it’s personal.
“As a unit, you want to be on the same accord,” Hubbard told me.
“But back there, that quarterback? That’s your brother in battle. You protect him like your own flesh and blood.”
Hubbard, currently a free agent entering his 12th NFL season, knows the stakes when it comes to a player like Tagovailoa — a talented signal-caller whose flashes of brilliance come with real concerns about his durability. To Hubbard, Tua’s magic can only be fully unlocked if he’s upright and trusted.
“If he’s upright, he’s able to do some magical things, man,” Hubbard emphasized. “We see a lot of glitz and glamour from Tua, but when he’s taking those hits, it’s like, ‘Aww man.’ He’s out there making different adjustments by trying to do too much.”
That sentiment isn’t just rooted in X’s and O’s. It’s layered in brotherhood, experience and even loss.
Mental Health: ‘People suffer silently’
Long before he lined up in the trenches, Chris Hubbard experienced the kind of heartbreak that still fuels him today. In high school, he lost a teammate to suicide; a player battling severe depression who confided in Hubbard far too late.
“I think that’s why I wanted to be so close with mental health,” Hubbard told me. “So many people suffer inside and silently. When I got into the league, it just wasn’t talked about enough.”
That silence inspired his advocacy, which he wears as passionately as his cleats.
“It was near and dear to my heart,” he said. “The challenges I’ve faced, a lot of things I kept in. But we’ve gotta change that.”
Giving Kevin Love His Flowers
In the sports world, visibility matters and Hubbard gave credit to former NBA All-Star Kevin Love, who helped open the floodgates for a new generation of athletes to prioritize mental wellness.
“I look up to him,” said Hubbard, who spent time in Cleveland during Love’s Cavaliers tenure.
“Just because we play a professional sport doesn’t mean we don’t have problems. Kevin being vocal helped all of us.”
Life as a Father and Free Agent
Off the field, Hubbard is focused on being a father and enjoying life’s quieter moments even if his football clock is still ticking.
“Fatherhood is everything to me,” he said. “My job is to make sure my kids are safe, they are loved and they are ready for everything life throws at them.”
And this summer?
“I’m on the island, man. Virgin Islands. Working out, staying ready. Teams are interested,” he added. “I know when the time comes, I’ll be ready. Whatever team, wherever.”
On Lamar vs. Tua
Hubbard offered a unique lens on how different elite quarterbacks Lamar Jackson and Tua Tagovailoa operate.
“Lamar? He’s fast as I don’t know what,” Hubbard laughed. “He’s got that escapability. He knows exactly how much time he has. With Tua, he’s still learning some of those things. He’s had to figure it out the hard way — but that’s how quarterbacks grow. You make mistakes, you build calluses.”
Yet, despite stylistic differences, Hubbard has nothing but respect for both.
“Tua can throw a deep ball like no other. It’s absolutely amazing to see.”
Whether it’s protecting Pro Bowl quarterbacks or passing the torch to his kids, Chris Hubbard carries his purpose with clarity. And if the Dolphins — or any other team — come calling?
He’s ready.
