Tua's Future isn't Football and Everyone Knows It

Illustration by Thomas Dyson

Tua Tagovailoa was recently waived by the Miami Dolphins after 78 games and 120 touchdowns over a six-year span. It was a rather underwhelming stint in Miami, as the Dolphins only managed two Wild Card appearances in six seasons, losing on both occasions. Tua is a player whose arrival in the league was heavily anticipated when he was drafted from Alabama in 2020. He has shown positive signs during his time in Vice City, averaging 26 touchdowns a year and boasting the highest completion rate in the league at 72.9% in 2024, as well as the highest number of passing yards in the league when he recorded 4,624 in 2023. His acquisition by the Atlanta Falcons makes a lot of sense on paper—Michael Penix is a less experienced and less proven QB, and bringing in a more seasoned option like Tua could be what the NFC South team needs to be a playoff contender again. However, there’s a reason beyond the stat sheet that makes me believe a new chapter in the league isn’t a good idea for Tua Tagovailoa.

As many fans know, Tua has a troubling track record with severe injuries, specifically head injuries. He suffered his first in September of 2022, when he sustained what was initially reported as a back injury against the Bills; however, the Dolphins later indicated it was a head injury. Tagovailoa cleared concussion protocol and was allowed to play against the Bengals four days later—a game in which he suffered another head injury. Many believed he never should have been able to play in the first place, given the nature of the injury he sustained against the Bills just days earlier. Concern continued to grow three months later, when Tua sustained another concussion during a regular-season matchup against the Packers. Then, two years later, Tua missed four games in the 2024 season after suffering yet another concussion against the Bills. We’ve known for a while now that head injuries can have long-term impacts, and this is something the league has addressed in the past. If the NFL is anywhere near as serious as they claim to be when it comes to protecting their players, they shouldn’t allow Tagovailoa to continue his career in the National Football League.

As someone who barely passed 9th-grade biology and hasn’t played any level of football beyond 3rd-grade flag, I’m not exactly high on the list of people who should contribute to this discussion. So, I’ve compiled a list of former NFL players who feel the same way. Shannon Sharpe suggested an early retirement for Tua after his string of serious head injuries in 2022, stating, “He’s seriously got to think about shutting it down.” Raiders head coach at the time and nine-year NFL veteran Antonio Pierce made his stance very clear a day after Tua’s concussion in 2024, stating, “I’d tell him to retire. It’s not worth it. Take care of your family.” Many more voices within the game supported this in 2024, with Hall of Fame tight end Tony Gonzalez, former All-Pro wide receiver Dez Bryant, and Shannon Sharpe once again urging Tua to end his playing career.

It’s not only players with professional experience who feel as if Tua should hang up the cleats. Dr. Bennett Omalu, a neuropathologist who first identified CTE in football players, confirmed that Tua continuing to play could lead to “catastrophic and permanent brain damage.” He also added that if he were Tua’s family member, he would “beg him to retire.” Brain health physician Dr. Mohammed Elamir also made a strong remark supporting Tua’s retirement, as did neuroscientist and Concussion Legacy Foundation CEO Chris Nowinski.

Playing professional football is a dream for millions, and perhaps it isn’t something that I fully understand given my career ended on the flag football fields of suburban Massachusetts in 2015. However, countless experts, as well as peers of Tua Tagovailoa, have urged that the quarterback continuing his career in the NFL is simply not worth the potential long-term health impacts. I believe that the best future for Tua Tagovailoa is not one that includes him being on an NFL roster, and for his own sake, I hope he realizes that sooner rather than later.