Tua Leaves Thursday Night Football With Concussion

Thursday night’s Dolphins-Bills game stunned the NFL world as Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa left the game with a devastating concussion. This marks Tua’s third concussion in the past three years, a concerning pattern for both him and the league. His second concussion was particularly traumatic, prompting discussions about his possible retirement at the time. Now, with this latest injury, concerns for Tua’s long-term health have intensified, with many in the media and around the league raising questions about his future in football.

Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel addressed the issue of a potential retirement for Tua in a Friday press conference, saying, “I think it would be so, so wrong of me to even sniff that subject. If I would answer that question, I’d be like, ‘All right, these are my thoughts on his career,’ and if he read it—whether he agreed or disagreed—either way, I’ve just made it worse.” Some on social media have criticized McDaniel’s comments, interpreting them as a lack of concern for Tua’s health. However, I believe this criticism is misplaced and taken out of context. McDaniel’s point was that publicly discussing Tua’s future, whether in support of retirement or otherwise, could put unnecessary pressure on his quarterback. McDaniel has expressed genuine concern for Tua’s well-being and was visibly shaken by the situation the day after the game. To suggest that he doesn’t care about his players’ safety based on one quote is disingenuous.

As we await further updates, either from the Dolphins or Tua himself, the severity of this latest concussion raises difficult questions. Personally, I feel this could be the end of Tagovailoa’s playing career. While he is an incredibly talented quarterback, he is also a person with a family, and continuing to play such a dangerous sport seems like an unnecessary risk at this point. Tua has already accomplished a great deal in his career, both in college and the NFL. He’s a national champion from his time at Alabama, a Pro Bowl quarterback who led the NFL in passing yards and passer rating, and he’s brought excitement and hope to Dolphins fans who endured years of poor play.

If this is indeed the end of Tua’s NFL career, it’s not something to mourn. He has achieved so much despite the challenges and adversity he’s faced. Now, the focus should be on his health and well-being. Let’s keep Tua and the Tagovailoa family in our thoughts and hope for a smooth recovery from this latest injury.