After suffering yet another ugly concussion, many people called for Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa to retire from football.
While the concussion he sustained last Thursday against the Buffalo Bills was his third in the past two years, there is speculation that Tagovailoa may have suffered even more than that.
From @NFLGameDay: #Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa has no plans to retire, sources say. He’s already begun seeing concussion specialists and will continue to do so, but there is no timeline to return. Tua will be back when he and his doctors deem him healthy and ready. pic.twitter.com/Cc6aQI8HcZ
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 15, 2024
Despite the public cries for him to step away from the game he loves, Tagovailoa has made it clear that he has no intention of retiring.
Today, the Dolphins officially placed Tagovailoa on injured reserve. The move will sideline Tua for at least four games.
He will be eligible to return in Week 8 when Miami takes on the Arizona Cardinals. In order to return to action, Tagovailoa will have to pass a series of concussion protocol tests which are required by the NFL.
Hall of Fame quarterback Steve Young, whose NFL career was prematurely cut short by concussions, has shared his thoughts on Tagovailoa’s tough situation.
During an appearance on The Dan Patrick Show, Young reflected on his own experiences and expressed concern for Tagovailoa’s future in the league.
Young, who retired after multiple concussions during his 15-year career, including two in 1999 that marked the end of his playing days, emphasized the long-term risks athletes face.
“I could tell you that if that happened to me – where you’re in these dramatic situations on the field with obviously severe concussions – now that I’ve lived longer, I would scream back, you know, be super careful,” Young said.
“The problem is you can go to all neurologists, and they’ll say, ‘Well, I would if I were you, or it seems like the best idea.’ No one’s going to say go play because that’s dangerous.”
Tagovailoa, who suffered two concussions during the 2022 season, and another in college at Alabama, has been under increasing scrutiny regarding his future in football.
Young highlighted the unique pressure Tagovailoa faces not only from doctors but from concerned fans.
“Tua is now in a place where it’s double dangerous – not only his health but everyone on the street. Old women will walk up to him and grab his cheek. ‘Please don’t play anymore. Please don’t do it. We just can’t watch it anymore.’ So there’s that social pressure as well.”
Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel has urged the public to respect Tagovailoa’s autonomy when it comes to his career decisions.
“I think as far as to his career is concerned, I think it’s of utmost priority of mine, for Tua to speak on his career,” McDaniel said. “I think reports are reports. As far as I’m concerned, I’m just worried about the human being and where that’s at day to day. And ‘ll let Tua be the champion of his own career and speak on that.”
The debate surrounding Tagovailoa’s career echoes larger conversations about athlete safety, particularly regarding concussions.
Bill Simmons, a prominent sports personality, compared how concussions are perceived across different sports.
“There’s no way to govern this obviously because we taped something at the top on Thursday where it’s like, ‘I don’t know what the number (of concussions) is for these dudes to retire,’” Simmons said.
“Then I watched boxing, flew home from Boston on Saturday night and I watched boxing and UFC on JetBlue and I’m just thinking, ‘these guys are just all getting the crap kicked out of them, and then they get up and they go to the next fight … Like who are we to tell Tua?’”
Ultimately, the decision about his future rests solely with Tagovailoa.
Despite the increasing concern from many in the football world – including several former players and current Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce who called for him to retire – the decision rests solely with Tua.
What are your thoughts on Young’s comments and the ongoing concussion issue in football???