Former Texas QB Quinn Ewers replaces Tua, making his first NFL start Sunday for the Miami Dolphins.
For the first time in nearly three years, a former Texas Longhorn will start at quarterback in an NFL game, and it's a familiar name for fans in burnt orange.
Quinn Ewers is set to make his first career NFL start for the Miami Dolphins in Week 16 against the Cincinnati Bengals, according to multiple reports, after Miami benched Tua Tagovailoa following a blowout loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers that officially ended the Dolphins' playoff hopes.
Ewers, a seventh-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, has spent most of his rookie season watching from the sideline.
His only regular-season action came in garbage time of a Week 7 loss to the Cleveland Browns, where he finished 5-of-8 passing for 53 yards, highlighted by a 40-yard strike that flashed the arm talent Texas fans saw under Steve Sarkisian.
In the preseason, he completed 23 of 43 passes for 273 yards, two touchdowns, and no interceptions, quietly building a foundation of trust inside the building.
Now he's getting the keys, at least for a week - and making a little Longhorns history in the process.
With this start, Ewers becomes the first former Texas quarterback to start an NFL game since Sam Ehlinger did it for the Indianapolis Colts on Jan. 8, 2023.
Ehlinger threw for 209 yards with two touchdowns and two picks that day in a narrow loss to the Houston Texans. Before Ehlinger, Colt McCoy carried the flag for Texas quarterbacks in the league, starting games for Washington, the Giants, and Arizona.
Despite Texas' recent resurgence under Sarkisian - sending impact players to the league at multiple positions - NFL starting jobs at quarterback have remained rare air for Longhorn alums.
That's part of what made Texas Football's official X account jump in quickly, posting a simple picture of Ewers with the classic eyeballs emoji as the news surfaced. No caption needed.
Ewers won't exactly be easing into the spotlight, either.
On the other sideline stands Joe Burrow, one of the NFL's premier quarterbacks, even as he navigates swirling rumors about his future, injuries, and trade chatter. Both the Bengals and Dolphins are eliminated from playoff contention, but the matchup still carries weight.
For Ewers, it's a live audition for the 2026 quarterback job in Miami, whether as the favorite or as a serious contender.
For Texas fans, it's appointment viewing - a chance to see if one of the program's most talked-about quarterbacks can carve out his own lane on Sundays.