The Miami Dolphins will release quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, the team announced Monday. The move will result in a dead salary cap hit of $99.2 million.

Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, who will be released, appeared in 78 games for the Miami Dolphins. File Photo by Aaron Josefczyk/UPI UPI Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa was a Pro Bowl selection in 2023, when the Miami Dolphins owned the NFL's best offense. File Photo by David Tulis/UPI UPI The Miami Dolphins signed quarterback Tua Tagovailoa to a $212.4 million contract extension in 2024. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI UPI Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa threw 120 touchdown passes over six seasons with the Miami Dolphins. File Photo by Larry Marano/UPI UPI Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa sustained multiple concussions, which led to significant absences during his time with the Miami Dolphins. File Photo by John Sommers II/UPI UPI

MIAMI, March 9 (UPI) -- The Miami Dolphins will release quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan announced Monday.

Tagovailoa's release, which will carry a post-June 1 designation, will result in a dead salary cap hit of $99.2 million, an NFL record. That hit will spread over two seasons, with a $67.4 million charge in 2026 and $31.8 million charge in 2026, if the Dolphins renounce a $15 million option in Tagovailoa's contract.

Miami, which selected Tagovailoa as the No. 5 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, signed the quarterback to a four-year, $212.4 million contract extension in 2024. He completed just one year of that new deal, receiving about $124.867 million.

Sullivan, who was hired in January, said he recently informed Tagovailoa and his representation that he would be released after 4 p.m. EDT Wednesday, the start of the new league year.

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"As I shared with Tua, I have great respect for the person and player he is," Sullivan wrote in a statement issued by the Dolphins. "On behalf of the Miami Dolphins, I expressed gratitude for his many contributions, both on the field and in the community, during his six seasons in Miami."

Tagovailoa, 28, went 44-32 over his six seasons with the Dolphins. He threw for 18,166 yards, with 120 touchdowns and 59 interceptions. The former Alabama quarterback, who struggled to stay in the lineup due to concussions and other injuries during his time in Miami, led the NFL in passer rating in 2022, passing yards in 2023 and completion percentage in 2024.

He earned a Pro Bowl selection during his 2023 campaign, when he completed 69.3% of his throws for 4,624 yards, 29 scores and 14 interceptions. The Dolphins owned the top offense in the NFL that season.

Former Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel, who was fired in January, benched Tagovailoa in December. Tagovailoa completed 67.7% of his throws for 2,660 yards, 20 touchdowns and a career-high 15 interceptions over 14 starts this season.

The four-time Dolphins captain issued a long farewell message Monday on Instagram, thanking teammates, coaches, fans and Jesus Christ for his time with the Dolphins.

"To the fans -- your energy, loyalty, and passion meant everything," Tagovailoa wrote on the social media platform. "You lifted me up in the biggest moments and stood by me through the challenging ones. From my first start I had, to the first touchdown I threw I'm grateful for all of it. My family and I felt your love every step of the way.

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"I also carry deep regret that I couldn't get the job done and bring a championship home to this city. Miami deserves that, and I'll always wish I could have delivered it for you."

Tagovailoa said he is now preparing "for the next chapter," but South Florida "will always hold a special place" in his heart.

Sullivan, who previously said that the Dolphins will be "very active" in their hunt for a quarterback, plans to infuse "competition across the roster."

"As we move forward, we will be focused on infusing competition across the roster and establishing a strong foundation for this team as we work toward building a sustained winner," Sullivan wrote.