Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa suffered his third confirmed concussion in two years during Thursday’s game against the Buffalo Bills, reigniting concerns about his long-term health and future in the NFL.
The 26-year-old signal-caller exhibited a crumpled “fencing” posture after a collision, which CBS Sports HQ injury expert Marty Jaramillo describes as a “textbook sign of a severe head injury.”
The gruesome brain injury has prompted several NFL greats to call for Tagovailoa’s retirement.
“I’m thinking retirement here. To me, it seems like a no-brainer. The brain, this is something that can affect you long-term. … For me, it’s time to move on,” Hall of Fame tight end Tony Gonzalez said on Prime Video’s postgame show.
Former players Andrew Whitworth and Richard Sherman echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the importance of prioritizing Tagovailoa’s long-term health over his football career.
The situation is particularly scary given Tagovailoa’s history of concussions. In the 2022 NFL season, he suffered at least two concussions, displaying similar symptoms to those seen on Thursday. This recurring brain injury pattern has raised serious questions about the cumulative effects of these injuries on Tagovailoa’s longterm brain health.
Tagovailoa recently signed a massive $212 million contract extension with the Dolphins, some of which Tagovailoa would not receive if he chose to retire.
However, as former linebacker Manti Te’o emotionally expressed on NFL Network’s “Good Morning Football,” “What people have to understand is this is just a game. And then there’s life.”
Tagovailoa himself has previously grappled with the idea of retirement. Following the 2022 season, he admitted to considering stepping away from the game due to his medical history.
Take a look. Warning: This is hard to watch —
SCARY. If Tua Tagovailoa plays another down in the NFL, there should be a criminal investigation. Two years ago and tonight. Concussions. Frightening. pic.twitter.com/haZ6A5MCuQ
— Don Lewis (@DonLew87) September 13, 2024