Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has dealt with a series of concussions over the past 24 months.
The latest head injury occurred during the Dolphins' 31-10 loss to the Buffalo Bills in the regular-season Thursday Night Football opener. Tagovailoa collided with Bills safety Damar Hamlin in the second half, resulting in the quarterback's third diagnosed concussion since entering the NFL.
Tagovailoa's latest scare sparked conversations about whether the NFL's 2023 passing yards leader should consider stepping away from the game to better preserve himself for his family and protect his long-term health.
Tagovailoa's football future was discussed during Friday's edition of ESPN's “First Take,” with Stephen A. Smith and “SportsCenter” host Elle Duncan delving into an exchange about an individual's willingness to sacrifice for his family.
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After “First Take” moderator Molly Qerim posed a question about whether Tagovailoa should end his NFL career, Smith shared his views on the mental makeup of men, suggesting that a man's mindset often differs from that of a woman.
“Molly and Elle, I can tell you this: As men, our mindsets are often different,” Smith began. “You're willing to risk everything to ensure the well-being of your family in perpetuity, even if you're not around.”
DOLPHINS' TUA TAGOVAILOA FACES CALLS TO RETIRE FROM NFL AFTER LATEST CONCUSSION: 'IT'S NOT WORTH IT'
Smith also used an analogy to illustrate the sacrifices he has personally made in committing to his profession.
“As a father, I make sacrifices all the time. I'm not with my daughters as much as I'd like to be. I'm not with my family as much as I'd like to be. They resent me sometimes and all that. I don't care. And you know why I don't care? Because I grew up hungry. And as a result of that, anything I do to ensure the well-being of my family in the future, even in the event that I'm not there, as selfish as it is, I'm willing to do it because I knew what it was like to grow up with nothing. These football players make those decisions every day as men. To provide, to protect. That's our number one priority. That's how most of us think. And that plays a role in the type of decisions that men make.”
September 12, 2024; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (1) walks off the field with the training staff after an apparent injury during the second half against the Buffalo Bills at Hard Rock Stadium. (Images by Jasen Vinlove-Imagn)
Duncan responded to Smith by highlighting some of the sacrifices he has made for his family.
“As a woman who has two scars that run from hip to hip because I've had two C-sections in an effort to provide for my family and create a family for my family, I understand the sacrifice,” Duncan said. “As a Black woman in this country, where mortality rates are incredibly high, I understand making sacrifices and trying to mitigate risk when it comes to family, expanding family and protecting family.
Duncan added that he hoped Tagovailoa's loved ones would step in and have a “real conversation with him.”
“All I ask is that anyone who is on Tua's side, anyone who truly believes in him and loves him, has a real conversation with him right now about what quality of life is like. We all face an existential crisis at some point in our lives.”
September 12, 2024; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (1) is checked by trainers after an apparent injury against the Buffalo Bills during the third quarter at Hard Rock Stadium. (Sam Navarro-Imagn Images)
Duncan then turned his attention to former NFL player Ryan Clark, who was part of the panel discussion.
“You host a podcast called 'The Pivot,' and all of us, at some point, have to pivot from what has defined us our entire lives,” she said. “I hope that someone in that family, someone on his side who really loves him, asks him to sit down and think carefully about whether he wants to continue doing this.”
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Tagovailoa was running with the ball as he tried to gain enough yards to pick up a first down in the third quarter of Thursday's game. Tagovailoa decided to lower his shoulder instead of sliding as Hamlin approached. The 26-year-old quarterback remained on the turf for a few minutes as medical personnel tended to him. Tagovailoa was eventually able to walk to the Dolphins' sideline.
The Dolphins plan to add another quarterback to the roster while Tagovailoa recovers from his latest concussion. However, Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel made it clear that Tagovailoa's health was everyone's main concern.
Backup quarterback Skylar Thompson will likely take over the starting role in Miami's game against the Seattle Seahawks on Sept. 22. McDaniel expressed his support for Thompson, saying, “The team and the organization have a lot of confidence in Skylar.”
McDaniel also noted that the team has not yet made a decision on whether to add Tagovailoa to injured reserve. The quarterback is expected to undergo further evaluation on Friday in Miami.
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