As he deals with his fourth diagnosed concussion in the last five years (counting his final collegiate season), Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is set to meet with neurologists within the next couple of days, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The 2023 Pro Bowler is naturally trying to collect as much information as possible before deciding on his playing future, but as Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network reports, Tagovailoa has no plans to retire (video link).
Of course, Tagovailoa will go through the league’s concussion protocol, a process that was modified as a result of his previous head injuries in 2022. As Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports notes, the protocol will be the same for Tagovailoa as it is for all other players, although the southpaw passer is one of just a few players – and the only quarterback – who has entered the protocol three separate times in the last five years (Jones also notes that, at the time of his latest injury, Tagovailoa was wearing the helmet that the league and union agree is currently the best at minimizing the severity of impacts to the head).
If Tagovailoa clears the protocol, he will have an important decision to make, one which will have a tremendous impact on his financial future. Per Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, the four-year, $212.4MM extension that Miami authorized for Tagovailoa at the end of July does not include any concussion-related provisions or carve-outs for either the player or the team, despite the unfortunate history here.
Of the $212.4MM total value of Tagovailoa’s new contract, roughly $167MM is guaranteed for injury. $43MM of that figure has already been paid out, so if Tagovailoa is cleared to play but chooses to retire – as noted above, he presently has no intention of doing so – he would forfeit the remaining $124MM, absent some sort of settlement with the Dolphins (h/t Spotrac). The ‘Fins could also seek to recover paid but unearned signing bonus money, which would amount to $8.4MM per year through 2028 and roughly $466K for each game left in 2024 after he is cleared (via Florio).
Luckily, both Rapoport and Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald hear that Tagovailoa will not be forced into retirement. But if for some reason he does not receive medical clearance, then the team would still need to pay him the $124MM in remaining injury guarantees. While the contract itself does not include any special language regarding concussions, the Dolphins did take out an insurance policy that would cover up to $49.3MM of that $124MM figure, as Jason Fitzgerald of OverTheCap.com notes.
Needless to say, the primary concern here is Tagovailoa’s long-term health, though the financial component of the situation cannot be ignored. At this time, there is no timeframe for a resolution, with head coach Mike McDaniel saying he is not focused on his quarterback’s return to the field.
“You’re talking about his career — his career is his,” McDaniel said. “I just wish that people would for a second hear what I’m saying, that bringing up his future is not in the best interest of him. So, I’m going to plead with everybody that does genuinely care that that should be the last thing on your mind.”
Four, not counting his “back injury.” Poor guy
End of the day, if he continues on his own will to keep playing despite everyone telling him not to, that is his choice I guess.
Now Miami has the freedom to just bench him for 4 plus years, but that’s a different story.
He also had one in college as well
Bringing up his future is not in the best interest of him? So telling him to quit before his brain turns to scrambled egg is somehow not altruistic?
God I f’ing hate corpo doublespeak. Just shut up mcdaniels
The problem is that none of these concussions have come on plays that would be considered dirty or out of the ordinary. He’s a ticking time bomb. There’s nothing the league or team can do to ensure he doesn’t get touched anymore. He doesn’t have a chin anymore. That doesn’t come back, no matter how much time you take off. There’s a century of combat sport examples that proves this is true.
Of course he isn’t going to retire. What’s to a healthy brain when you are leaving millions of dollars on the table for the next 4 years. Apparently, that signing bonus isn’t enough to live off of.
My solution for Tua would be to not retire at all when cleared. When and if he is cleared just start throwing with your right arm. When they question it just act all confused and keep throwing with your right arm. They will figure out his mind is gone and they will pay him his full contract to go away.
Even better, he should convert from being a QB to place kicker. George Blanda did it ages ago with da Raiders. Compared to QB, it’s a relatively safe position to play in football. He probably doesn’t have the leg for kickoffs, although he might with the goofy new rules this year. (landing zone?) But he can certainly attempt FGs and XPs. Just sayin’…
McDaniel saying people bringing up his career is not in the best interest of him is laughable. Saying nothing is not in the best interest of Tua.
This guy is going to be carried off the field one day, right into the rubber room or morgue……
He’s a competitor who also wants his bag. They’ll have to carry him off the field on his shield before he voluntarily retires.
Personally, the injury insurance would be enough incentive to preserve my health … but that’s me personally and obviously I’m not Tua ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Tua hasn’t suffered enough brain damage to get himself elected to a high political office…so he might as well continue playing football.
The problem is the contract: even with a brain injury, he’d be nuts to walk away from a $55 million a year job, where is he gonna find that salary when he retires? He’s probably already looking at a lifetime of regular appointments with neurologists, plus CAT scans and/or MRI’s. He probably won’t feel financially safe until he has $100+ million in the bank.
The scary part is, it gets easier to get a concussion with each passing one. Former Falcons quarterback Chris Miller retired somewhat young due to concussions, but tried coming back with the Broncos as a backup after a year off. He suffered his last concussion when he tripped & fell handing off the ball to Terrell Davis in a preseason game. His brain really became that brittle.
The problem is – this what Tua worked his entire life for. Its not easy to give up when you think you can play – even without the money in the equation.
Many older NFL players still refuse to believe they are done – even when teams stop calling.
Its a way of life. Its what they know.
The counter point is – severe concussions can lead to suicidal thoughts and depression. Its not easy to walk away from even knowing that information.
Many NFL players get therapy when they retire because there just isn’t anything else in life that matches that feeling – independent of health.
Im not at all surprised by his decision – but it will ne sad when his playing career ends and he has side effects.
Does he plan on sliding any time soon?
Everyone in the media and on this app will have their thoughts and opinions but at the end of the day it’s his choice. If he wants to walk away to preserve his health then more power to him. The dolphins as an organization should take care of him and his family for the rest of his life. But if he doesn’t want to give up the thing he’s worked his entire life getting good at I get it. 26 years old prime competitor, a lot of people wouldn’t be able to walk away. Prayers for Tua and his family whatever he decides.
Why meet w/neurologist if ur minds made up to continue playing. Whole situation suks but he wouldn’t be 1st star nfl player to have to quit in prime because concussions. They compound themselves w/brain becoming more susceptible to future concussions after each event n the more longterm damage he is doing to his brain w/each instance. Family should lean on em to quit.
I’ve had a few of those playing on what passed for an AstroTurf field back in the 70’s and 80’s, basically carpet over concrete. The last head shot was the one that got me. I pray Tua stops before he ends up with serious cognition problems. We’re all young and indestructible until we’re not. Tua needs someone sit him down and let him know what can happen or better yet let him talk to a few guys who have been there and paid the price. Sorry to ramble, but it’s criminal to let him keep getting concussed for the sake of a football game.
He won’t want to play again but he is going to do enough to eventually get cleared and receive the rest of his bag. That’s the conversation going on.
I was hoping he would use logic and quit… But I guess with the big money he’s due…dam. I wish the guy all the luck in the world and stay healthy
What a sad situation. If he does what’s best for him, he’ll likely have to repay signing bonus and he’s done with getting paid, because he “walked away”.
If the Dolphins want to avoid uncertainty and cut him, they take the full contractually obligate financial hit.
Good luck finding a medical professional to fail him on a physical such that the injury guarantees kick in and he could step away paid.
This is a Kobyashi-Maru.