Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel joked that Tua Tagovailoa has been given an ‘executive order’ to avoid getting hurt after Donald Trump told the quarterback he ‘has got to stay healthy’.
The 27-year-old started only 11 games last season amid concerns over his health after several nasty concussions.
There were fears that Tagovailoa might have to call time on his career but he is back and preparing to lead the Dolphins into the 2025 campaign.
On Thursday, president Trump namechecked the quarterback at the White House. Trump butchered the pronunciation of Tagovailoa but said he ‘has really been fantastic.’
‘When he’s not injured, he’s great. He’s got to stay healthy. But he’s a great guy,’ the president said.
On Saturday, McDaniel addressed Trump’s comments during Dolphins training camp, telling NFL Network: ‘If I was concerned about how serious he was taking his part in staying healthy, I think he got an executive order last night to stay healthy, if I’m not mistaken.’
Mike McDaniel joked that Tua Tagovailoa has been given an ‘executive order’ to avoid injury
Earlier this week, president Donald Trump told the quarterback he ‘has got to stay healthy’
The president hosted multiple professional athletes at the White House on Thursday
He then praised his quarterback, adding: ‘It’s been cool to watch him really evolve into who he is on the national stage but more so, really in his own skin, be the true leader of the team.
‘It’s real and authentic and all he’s done is – in a ton of noise – focus on the right stuff. So there’s a lot of things that go into staying healthy but first and foremost you have to front-end prioritize and really acknowledge what you mean to the team.
‘And, like in years past, he lives and embraces “control-ables” and is not afraid of any work. So guys respond to him.’
The president, 79, hosted multiple professional athletes, including golfer Bryson DeChambeau and Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker, at the White House Thursday for an executive order signing that will reestablish the Presidential Fitness Test.
A number of sports stars will form a newly-created council of to help with the reinstatement of the test, including Tagovailoa.
But Trump’s attempt at praising the Dolphins passer was almost derailed when the president tripped over his last name, which is pronounced ‘Tun-go-val-oa.’
Tagovailoa’s wife Annah sparked controversy by endorsing Trump last October
Ivanka Trump previously shared a snap of the Dolphins quarterback playing chess with her son
The Commander-in-Chief sounded out the last name of the signal caller, who is of Samoan descent, before butchering it anyway and pronouncing it ‘Ta-go-valiah.’
The Alabama product appears to be close to the president’s extended family. Earlier this year, Tagovailoa and his former Dolphins teammate Braxton Berrios spent time with First Daughter Ivanka Trump and her husband Jared Kushner.
Ivanka, the eldest daughter of president Trump, shared photos of her family hanging out with the NFL stars, which included her son passing the pigskin around and playing chess with Tagovailoa.
