At only 26, NFL player Tua Tagovailoa is again at the center of a conversation about retirement. The Miami Dolphins quarterback, who has a history of head trauma, suffered another concussion Thursday night (Sept. 12) in a 31-10 home loss to the Buffalo Bills.
In a scary moment during the third quarter, Tagovailoa was scrambling for a first down when he lowered his body into Bills safety Damar Hamlin. After the hit, the QB fell and went into a fencing response, with arms clenched and fingers curled. Dolphins offensive lineman Austin Jackson said he could tell by Tagovailoa’s eyes that the QB “wasn’t there all the way.”
Players from both teams knelt on the field while medical staff attended Tagovailoa. He was able to walk away on his own and didn’t return to the game.
Because of Tagovailoa’s injury history, some commentators and former players are encouraging him to prioritize his health, even if that means retiring early. The QB, an outspoken Christian, is married and has two young children. In July, Tagovailoa signed a four-year, $216 million contract extension with the Dolphins. About $167 million of that is guaranteed.
QB Tua Tagovailoa Receives ‘Love and Prayers’
After Tagovailoa left Thursday night’s game, social media was filled with well wishes, plus pleas for the athlete to prioritize his health. Hamlin, the player he ran into, posted “My love and prayers…Sending you strength and healing for a speedy recovery.”
Worship leader Sean Feucht shared a photo of himself with Tagovailoa. “Praying for my friend @Tua right now,” Feucht wrote. “He’s a true worshipper of Jesus. May God bring peace, healing and wisdom over his mind and body right now.”
Several former NFL players said Tagovailoa should walk away from football because his “entire life” is ahead of him. That’s difficult and unfortunate, they acknowledged, but safety comes first. Retired kicker Lawrence Tynes posted, “That’s just way too many head injuries for a young man with his whole life in front of him.”
Tagovailoa suffered a concussion in 2019, during his final season at Alabama. In 2022, during his third NFL season, the QB had two concussions plus another blow to the head. After one of those injuries, he stumbled back to the huddle but sat out only briefly before returning to the game. That led to a league investigation and changes to the NFL’s concussion protocol.
The QB admitted he pondered retirement back then, but last month he said his mom was the main proponent for that. Tagovailoa adjusted his training regimen and stayed healthy all last season. For 2024, he lost weight to be more mobile.
Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel said the timeline for Tagovailoa’s return is “the furthest thing from my mind.” Instead, he said he wants to support his QB and ensure he receives appropriate care. The Dolphins don’t play again until Sept. 22.
Tagovailoa, who grew up in a nondenominational church, has said he’s grateful to have a public platform to profess his Christian faith. The QB has glorified God and shared Scripture verses during interviews. A Hawaii native, Tagovailoa raised funds for Maui after last year’s devastating wildfires.
Benjamin Watson: Athletes Must ‘Count the Cost’
Benjamin Watson, who played in the NFL for 15 years, also said he’s “thinking about Tua” and the quandary he faces. “Though I’m grateful for each season I played, I sometimes wish I would have walked away earlier,” Watson posted. “Perhaps it would have alleviated some of my current concern about my future health.”
When it comes to health, “The dogged determination that got [athletes] to the pinnacle can simultaneously be our worst enemy in decisions where [objectivity] is a necessity,” Watson added. “Every athlete has to count the cost; known and speculative. I pray Tua seeks the Lord in the coming days. May wisdom prevail.”
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