“It was heartbreaking” | Fitzpatrick emotional after Tua is named starter

“My heart just hurt all day.”

Dolphins quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick was visibly emotional on Wednesday’s Zoom press conference.

On Tuesday morning, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that the Miami Dolphins were naming rookie Tua Tagovailoa the starting quarterback of the team. It was a move that was met with plenty of shock, considering the Dolphins were 3-3 on the season, and Fitzpatrick was a large part of their success.

Fitzpatrick has 10 touchdown passes this season, and 7 interceptions. He is averaging 256 passing yards per game.

 ESPN’s Cameron Wolfe reported that many of the players were not immediately alerted of the quarterback change, and found out from the reports — not from Brian Flores. Fitzpatrick said he was made aware of the decision by Flores, but didn’t have the opportunity to tell his family.

“My two boys in middle school, they don’t get to find out from dad,” Fitzpatrick said. “They have to find out from friends in a text message.”

Fitzpatrick was aware of his role as the team’s “placeholder” for Tagovailoa, but was still caught off guard when the moment finally came.

 “We talked in the past… this was eventually going to happen. It was just a matter of when, not if,” Fitzpatrick said. “It broke my heart yesterday. It’s a tough thing for me to hear, and now have to deal with.”

Fitzpatrick played a large role in the team’s success this season, but was also heavily involved in building the identity of the team in 2019. From lowering his shoulder to embrace a hit, to fist-bumping with a wide grin, Fitzpatrick’s playstyle and leadership was evident every week.

 Defensive back Bobby McCain spoke in August about how Fitzpatrick has helped the team as a whole. 

“Fitz is a good player and is also a good leader,” McCain said. “He helps everyone. He’s seen a lot of football. He’s going to do nothing but elevate that room.”

When the Dolphins drafted Tagovailoa in April, Fitzpatrick took on the role of mentoring the rookie. Tagovailoa said becoming the starter was a bittersweet feeling because of the pain it also brought to Fitzpatrick.

“I felt for Fitz,” Tagovailoa said. “Me and Fitz had a conversation about all of this. Although it hurts me in a way to see Fitz hurt, I’m very lucky to have someone like him in my corner.”

Fitzpatrick, who is 37-years-old, said he is still unsure about his future, but he wondered if that was his last time stepping onto the field as a starter.

 “I’m always ready to go,” Fitzpatrick said. “I can probably come out of the stands and play in five years if I needed to.”