It was a routine run for a primary down, the type that quarterbacks do each week within the Nationwide Soccer League.
However Tua Tagovailoa of the Miami Dolphins leaned headfirst into the deal with, and the influence in opposition to the defender’s chest despatched his head sharply to the left. Afterward, he collapsed to the bottom, along with his proper fist balled and raised into the air in what seemed to be a telltale signal of mind damage.
Later through the Thursday-night recreation, the Miami Dolphins made it official: Tagovailoa had suffered a concussion, the newest for the 26-year-old whose profession had already come to be outlined by his worrying historical past of mind damage.
Now, Tagovailoa’s concussion has prompted a dramatic response by followers and former gamers alike who’ve urged him to retire — a mirrored image of a rising consciousness among the many American public of the dangers of the long-term mind harm that may observe hits to the top. Even a present coach has referred to as for him to retire.
“I will be trustworthy, I might inform him to retire. It isn’t price it,” mentioned Antonio Pierce, the top coach of the Las Vegas Raiders, talking at a press convention Friday. “I simply assume sooner or later, he’ll reside longer than he’ll play soccer. Care for your loved ones.”
Throughout broadcast and social media, former gamers and followers alike shared the identical sentiment. “If I am him, at this level, I am significantly contemplating retiring from soccer. If that was my son, I might be like, ‘It could be time.’ These things is just not what you mess around with,” mentioned Tony Gonzalez, a Corridor of Fame tight finish for the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs and the Atlanta Falcons, talking after the sport as an analyst on Amazon Prime’s broadcast.
“Actually hope Tua is okay, however he’s gotta significantly take into consideration shutting it [down],” mentioned Shannon Sharpe, the previous Denver Broncos tight finish. “His concussions are getting worse and worse and he’s a younger man along with his whole life forward of him.”
Concussions and repeated blows to the top are key danger elements in long-term mind accidents, together with continual traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE, a critical situation that may trigger early dementia and loss of life.
“There isn’t a magic variety of concussions to require retirement,” mentioned Chris Nowinski, a former soccer participant {and professional} wrestler who later pursued neuroscience and now heads the Concussion Legacy Basis.
“All of it depends upon how he recovers from this one, however having too many concussions can result in continual signs and psychological well being problems,” Nowinski continued, writing on the social media web site X. “He is in a really robust spot.”
A small variety of NFL gamers have left the game early over issues about their neurological well being, together with the Carolina Panthers All-Professional linebacker Luke Kuechly and the San Francisco 49ers linebacker Chris Borland, who retired after just one season within the NFL.
“With Tua, there’s the added strain of being the star of the franchise, the participant that they are constructing round,” Borland instructed NPR in 2022. “It is vital that gamers are higher protected as a result of, if left to their very own gadgets, for 100 totally different incentives, we’d do something to get again on the sector.”
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In 2022, the NFL revised its concussion analysis protocol after Tagovailoa was allowed to re-enter a recreation after sustaining what seemed to be a head damage when he was cleared by medical analysis. In one other recreation simply 4 days later, he hit his head once more, this time with a proper analysis of concussion. Weeks later, he sustained yet one more concussion and missed the remainder of the season.
After that, he consulted docs and household about whether or not to proceed enjoying. In a podcast interview final month, Tagovailoa mentioned some relations, particularly his mom, had requested him to think about quitting.
“It was simply introduced up right here and there, like, ‘I do not assume you need to proceed to play and whatnot, however we’ll all the time assist what you need to do,'” he instructed The Dan Le Batard Present with Stugotz podcast. “I get it. I obtained youngsters too, now, and you may perceive why the moms are the way in which they’re.”
However he determined to stay with soccer. Forward of the next season, Tagovailoa devoted his offseason to change into much less susceptible to concussions. He took jiu jitsu lessons and educated in find out how to roll his physique when falling, reasonably than permitting his head to hit the turf.
The 2023 season that adopted was the most effective of his profession. He led the league in passing yards and steered the Dolphins to an 11-6 report, their most wins since 2008. In July, he was rewarded with a $212 million contract extension.
Now, ought to he select to retire, how a lot of that compensation he’ll obtain will rely on whether or not he’s medically cleared to return to soccer.
If he’s cleared to play however retires anyway, Tagovailoa will forgo $124 million. If he’s medically compelled into retirement, he’ll gather that cash, in accordance with Spotrac, a service that tracks skilled sports activities contracts.
After the hit throughout Thursday’s recreation, Tagovailoa walked off the sector with out help, and the Dolphins reported that he was capable of converse with medical workers within the locker room.
On Friday, head coach Mike McDaniel declined to invest a couple of timeline for Tagovailoa’s return. “One of the best factor I can do is just not attempt to assess what this even means from a soccer standpoint,” McDaniel mentioned. “Attempting to fulfill [timelines], attempting to evaluate what this implies for taking part in — that is heavy stuff.”
As of Friday afternoon, Tagovailoa had not commented publicly on his choices.
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