Tua Tagovailoa ‘is not considering retirement’ from NFL after recent concussion, according to reports
Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa of the Miami Dolphins is not thinking about retiring from the NFL after experiencing his third concussion in three years, as reported by Ian Rapoport from NFL Network.
“Tua Tagovailoa is not considering retirement, according to sources,” Rapoport shared on the social media platform X. “He has begun consulting with concussion specialists and will continue doing so, but there’s no set timeline for his return.”
The NFL insider also noted that the Dolphins’ quarterback is eager to play again once he receives medical clearance.
“His aim is to get back on the field when he’s ready. This is why Mike McDaniel hasn’t provided a timeline for his return; discussing timelines can heighten anxiety,” Rapoport added.
“When it comes to football, it wouldn’t be surprising if he misses several games.”
How many concussions has Tua Tagovailoa experienced throughout his life?
The concussion Tagovailoa experienced on Thursday is the third since he joined the NFL in 2020, but it marks at least the fourth one in his life.
His first recorded concussion occurred while he was still the quarterback at Alabama. During a game against Mississippi State in the 2019 season, Tagovailoa suffered a concussion and a broken nose while being tackled, in addition to a broken and dislocated hip.
Overall, at age 26, he has had at least four concussions in the past six years.
Tagovailoa’s third concussion in three years raises retirement discussions
Tagovailoa, 26, incurred the concussion late in the third quarter during the Dolphins’ “Thursday Night Football” game against the Buffalo Bills. He was scrambling up the middle on a fourth down play in the red zone when he collided with Bills safety Damar Hamlin.
He lay on the field for a few moments following the impact before walking off. The Dolphins later ruled him out of the game due to the concussion.
This latest injury, which exhibited “fencing position” symptoms, evoked memories of the similar concussion he sustained against the Bengals in another “Thursday Night Football” matchup in 2022, instantly triggering discussions about the possibility of retirement for the Dolphins’ quarterback.
Pro Football Hall of Famer Tony Gonzalez commented on Prime Video’s postgame show, “In light of these concussions, if I were him, I’d seriously think about retiring from football. If he were my son, I’d suggest it might be time to step away. This is not something to take lightly.”
Mike Freeman from YSL News expressed, “Nobody should advise him to retire; that decision should come from his family and close friends. They need to discuss the risks involved, including CTE and Parkinson’s disease.”
Tagovailoa had previously thought about retiring
In April 2023, after a season that included both of his first two concussions in the NFL, Tagovailoa shared with reporters that he had contemplated retiring from football after the 2022 season.
“Yes, I considered it for a period,” the former Alabama quarterback revealed then. “After discussing it with my family and talking to my wife, it was a hard decision to think about. However, it’s difficult for me to walk away from the sport at my age, especially since I have a son. I’ve always wanted to play long enough for my son to understand what he was watching me do. It’s a matter of my health and well-being, and I believe this is best for me and my family. I love football. If I didn’t, I would have walked away a long time ago.”