Tua Tagovailoa suffered another concussion on Thursday after colliding headfirst with Damar Hamlin while trying to gain a first down. This marks his third official concussion. It raises concerns about whether he should continue playing and jeopardize his long-term health. On Friday, Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel emphasized that he doesn’t want to add any extra stress on Tagovailoa regarding future timelines.
“It is absolutely imperative that he [Tagovailoa] is focusing on nothing but his recovery now,” McDaniel said at a press conference. He stressed the importance of Tagovailoa taking the recovery process one day at a time and following expert advice through the concussion protocol. While Tagovailoa shouldn’t be preoccupied with future concerns during his recovery, considering retirement due to his injury history might be prudent.
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Tua’s Injury History:
Tagovailoa previously suffered two concussions during the 2022 season. His first concussion occurred in Week 3 when Bills linebacker Matt Milano drove him into the ground, causing the back of his head to hit the turf. Though Tagovailoa stumbled and fell, the injury wasn’t officially classified as a concussion, and he finished the game.
However, four days later, Tagovailoa experienced his first official concussion in the second quarter of a game when he was thrown to the ground and hit his head again. He displayed a fencing reaction his fingers curled up indicating a concussion. He was removed on a stretcher and entered the concussion protocol. Tagovailoa returned three weeks later but sustained another head injury in Week 16. He went on to miss the rest of the 2022-2023 season, including a Wild Card game against the Bills.
Long-Term Effects:
With multiple head injuries, Tagovailoa faces an increased risk of developing Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE). According to the Mayo Clinic, CTE can lead to cognitive impairment, mood changes, and Parkinsonism. Symptoms typically appear in two stages: behavioral changes and depression in one’s 20s or 30s, followed by memory loss and dementia later in life. Continuing to play after Thursday’s injury could further jeopardize his long-term health.
Impact on Guaranteed Money:
In the offseason, Tagovailoa signed a four-year, $212.4 million extension with over $160 million guaranteed. However, this money is not guaranteed if he decides to retire voluntarily. He would only receive the guaranteed money if retirement was medically mandated. If Tagovailoa clears concussion protocol in a few weeks, his retirement wouldn’t be considered “forced,” and he would forfeit the guaranteed funds. While Tagovailoa has already earned substantial money from his career, retiring now would mean leaving a significant amount behind. He will need to weigh his injury history and potential long-term health risks against the financial and personal impact of retiring from the sport he loves.
