Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa’s career with the Miami Dolphins is at a crossroads due to multiple head injuries.
Tua is facing some tough decisions about his future in professional football.
And Miami Dolphins star quarterback Tua Tagovailoa just made a shocking decision about his future in football.
Tua Tagovailoa makes a return to the field after his fourth serious concussion
It is week eight in the NFL, and Miami Dolphins star quarterback Tua Tagovailoa made his return to the playing field against the Arizona Cardinals after getting knocked out of a week two game against the Buffalo Bills with a concussion.
This was his fourth concussion in the NFL.
Tua has also suffered a number of other serious injuries, including a fractured pelvis, dislocated hip, broken nose, and injured back.
But it is the multiple concussions that has many fans and experts worried.
Tua takes a hard hit. He appears to be concussed. #BUFvsMIA pic.twitter.com/SwBpjQQaM1
— Rate the Refs App (@Rate_the_Refs) September 13, 2024
He suffered the fourth concussion of his career and that had some wondering if it was time for the quarterback to hang up his cleats in order to protect his health.
Tagovailoa’s college coach at the University of Alabama, Nick Saban, said he was worried about his former quarterback getting another head injury should he decide to keep playing.
“I’m concerned. I want Tua to be safe and healthy and not have a football career that’s going to impact him down the road,” Saban said on The Pat McAfee Show. “This is a medical decision, this not an organizational decision. People will look at him and say ‘Why are they letting him play?’ I think the doctors make that decision and it’s a medical decision.”
Tagovailoa suffered a concussion and a broken hip while playing for Saban at Alabama.
“So he has to make a decision — is the risk-reward from a medical point worth it to you?” Saban asked. “I think all those things are in play now. If he wants to play — and I’ve talked to him, I know he wants to play, I know what kind of competitor he is — then I’m happy for him that he’s having the opportunity to play. But I also pray for him that he doesn’t have any issues.”
Tua makes a decision about wearing new technology to help protect him against more concussions
Player safety has become a point of emphasis in the NFL and the league has debuted new technologies to try and help protect players.
NFL teams have been mandated to wear Guardian Caps at certain positions during practice starting in 2022.
The Guardian Cap is a padded, softshell that goes over a football helmet.
To reduce player risk and continue driving innovations in equipment technology, Guardian Caps have also been authorized for in-game use this season.
To reduce player risk and continue driving innovations in equipment technology, Guardian Caps have been authorized for in-game use this season.
Hear more from @NFL Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Allen Sills: https://t.co/PpqOBxEiHl pic.twitter.com/tXUlAaEDbR
— NFL Football Operations (@NFLFootballOps) April 26, 2024
NFL research claims that they helped reduce concussions in training camps.
This is the first season that the NFL cleared players to wear them during regular season games.
But Tua Tagovailoa decided not to wear it despite his history of head injuries.
“Personal choice,” Tagovailoa said when he was asked about wearing one.
The Dolphins quarterback said instead of wearing the new helmet cover he simply needed to be smarter on the field to protect himself from injury.
“Just got to be smart, that’s it. Just got to be smart,” Tagovailoa said. “My entire time playing football, I’ve been a competitor, and that is or was sort of my edge when I would run from high school, even in college I would do the same thing.”
“But it’s a professional setting; this is the professional level, the best of the best, you just can’t be doing that,” Tagovailoa continued. “So definitely got to stay more available for the team, for the organization, for our guys.”
It remains to be seen if wearing Guardian Caps will become a common practice among NFL players.
But for Tua, there seems to be no question – he won’t be wearing one anytime soon.
