Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa suffered a concussion on September 12th during a 31-10 loss to the Buffalo Bills on Thursday Night Football, after a hit from defensive back Damar Hamlin.
Tagovailoa said that he will not be retiring despite his history with concussions, having three registered concussions since 2022.
Tagovailoa has been in and out of injury rehab for multiple years.. In 2022, Tagovailoa missed five games of the NFL season due to a concussion. He played every game last year despite suffering a concussion, but he is set to miss at least four games after being placed on the injury reserve.
“We just have to operate in the unknown and be prepared for every situation, and that's all I want to do or we should do just because I'm not going to rush to judgment way prematurely. I'll even throw this out; the only two people, the only two opinions that really matter that are the absolute driving force for what we're doing at that position, Tua and the doctors,” Miami Dolphins Head Coach Mike McDaniel said.
Despite McDaniel feeling that it’s Tagovailoa’s decision, other head coaches believe he should retire.
“I’ll be honest, I’d tell him to retire. It’s not worth it,” Las Vegas Raiders Head Coach Antonio Pierce said.
ESPN analyst and former Alabama football head coach Nick Saban, who coached Tagovauiloa in college, felt he should not be listening to outside advice when deciding whether to retire or not.
“I think Tua and his family should listen to all the medical evidence and they shouldn't be influenced by anybody else,” Saban said.
Many people in the media have opinions on Tagovailoa’s situation, even some football fans.
“I think it sucks for Dolphins fans because that’s their franchise QB. He’s probably gonna have to retire now, that just really sucks,” NHS freshman Kyle Duncan said.
Another football fan had a similar opinion on Tagovailoa’s situation.
“I think he should retire, I think he’s done. It’s not worth it to keep going,” NHS freshman Blaise Mindenhall said.
Tagovailoa’s first concussion came in 2019 while playing for the Alabama Crimson Tide against Mississippi State. Between 2019 and 2021 Tua missed eight games in college football and the NFL due to injuries that weren’t concussions.
The amount of injuries that have occured in football over the years has led to innovations in player safety. This year, NFL players can wear guardian caps in game, which is a soft pad that attaches to the helmet which can help prevent head injuries.
This concussion Tua Tagovailoa suffered is only the most recent of many injuries he has sustained throughout his career. His willingness to go through rehabilitation and return to the playing field shows his competitive spirit, and could be a sign that he’ll still be a good football player once he returns.
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