One Too Many
NFL Star Tua Tagovailoa Sustains yet Another Concussion
Not one, not two, but three concussions Dolphins star QB Tua Tagovailoa has suffered in his short five-year career thus far. Tagovailoa, a four-star quarterback, committed to Nick Saban and the Alabama Crimson Tide in 2017. While these concussions did not pose a threat to him in high school and college, they have became a great problem in recent years during his NFL tenure. Over the last couple weeks, the NFL community has expressed their concerns for his safety, questioning how long and far he is willing to push himself before these concussions become life-threatening.
Tagovailoa’s first serious concussion came in 2022 after slamming his head hard on the ground following a tackle. While he exited the game, he was checked by an independent neurologist and was out of the NFL’s concussion protocol the following day, changing the injury to a back injury. However, just four days later, Tagovailoa slammed his head hard on the turf; laying there, his fingers seemingly frozen in the air for several seconds. He was ruled out for several weeks, and an investigation opened, resulting in the firing of Tagovailoa’s neurologist.
Just 10 weeks later, Tagovailoa suffered yet another head injury, resulting in him being ruled out the rest of the season. A little less than two years later on Sept. 17, 2024, he suffered another concussion after slamming his head into a defensive player. The quarterback was placed on the injured reserve, out for at least four games.
While Tagovailoa has become prone to concussions, the NFL has implemented new rules to lower these rates. Beginning in the 2024 season, the NFL introduced guardian caps, which reduce concussion rates by 52%, into practices and games, giving players the option to wear them. Many players on each time have opted in to wear them; however, Tagovailoa is not one of them. Despite his continuous head injuries, he has continued to deny the option of these guardian caps.
Consequently, numerous NFL players and analysts have raised significant questions, prioritizing his safety over Super Bowl rings. Former NFL star quarterbacks, including Cam Newton and Brett Favre, have urged Tagovailoa to retire and take care of his brain.
Tagovailoa has a serious chance of future concussions, but he continues to play. His injury has raised significant concerns in the sports community of how far athletes are willing to push themselves before a life-changing injury.
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