Dolphins Cut Tagovailoa, Face Record $99M Dead Cap; Chiefs Reload with Walker, Kelce

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — The Miami Dolphins are ripping up the Tua Tagovailoa era, announcing Monday that they will release the quarterback who has started the past 5½ seasons. The decision triggers a $99 million dead-cap charge, the largest in NFL history, less than two years after Tagovailoa signed a $212 million extension. General manager Jon-Eric Sullivan said he had “informed Tua and his representation that we are going to move in a new direction.” The Dolphins are expected to pivot to former Titans quarterback Malik Willis.

While Miami absorbs the financial shock, the Kansas City Chiefs moved swiftly to fortify their roster after a 6-11 season. Super Bowl MVP running back Kenneth Walker agreed to a three-year deal worth up to $45 million, according to a source familiar with the negotiations. Walker, who rushed for 135 yards in Seattle’s title win over New England, fills a backfield void with both Kareem Hunt and Isiah Pacheco set for free agency. The Chiefs also expect to retain tight end Travis Kelce for a 14th season; negotiations on a new contract are in the final stages.

Elsewhere in the NFL, the Dallas Cowboys landed Green Bay edge rusher Rashan Gary in exchange for a 2027 late-round pick, a person with knowledge of the trade told the AP. The swap was completed moments before the league’s legal-tampering window opened, positioning Gary opposite Micah Parsons in coordinator Mike Zimmer’s defense.

Quarterback movement dominated the early free-agency cycle. Arizona is parting with Kyler Murray, adding another high-profile name to a market that now includes Tagovailoa.

On the global stage, Russia’s national anthem echoed through the Paralympic venue in Cortina d’Ampezzo for the first time since 2014 after Para alpine skier Varvara Voronchikhina captured gold in the women’s super-G standing event. Russian athletes are competing under their own flag at a major event for the first time since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

Iraq’s preparations for a March 31 intercontinental World Cup playoff have been thrown into chaos by the Middle East conflict. Coach Graham Arnold asked FIFA to postpone the winner-takes-all match against either Suriname or Bolivia in Monterrey, citing closed Iraqi airspace through April 1 that has prevented players and staff from departing the country.

In U.S. college basketball, Duke became the first program to log 150 all-time No. 1 rankings in the AP men’s poll after victories over NC State and North Carolina. On the women’s side, UCLA trimmed UConn’s unanimous hold on the top spot, claiming three first-place votes, while Texas jumped to No. 3 after defeating South Carolina in the SEC tournament final.

The Champions League round of 16 opens Tuesday with high-profile rematches: Real Madrid hosts Manchester City for the fifth straight knockout campaign, Paris Saint-Germain welcomes Chelsea, and Barcelona travels to Newcastle. Norwegian newcomer Bodø/Glimt, playing inside the Arctic Circle, will make its knockout-stage debut against Sporting Lisbon.