Miami Dolphins Tua Tagovailoa had one of the most interesting seasons of any player in the NFL last year.
He led the league in passer rating and set career highs in touchdowns and yards, but he also dealt with two confirmed concussions and another injury that was considered to be to the back but definitely could’ve affected his head.
This led to the Dolphins essentially shutting the former first-round pick down for the remainder of the season following the team’s loss to the Green Bay Packers on Christmas Day.
While Tagovailoa is ready for his fourth professional season, there was a point when he considered walking away from football.
“I considered it for a time, having sat down with my family, having sat down with my wife and having those conversations,” Tagovailoa told reporters at his media availability on Wednesday. “But, really, it would be hard for me to walk away from this game with how old I am, with my son. I always dreamed of playing as long as I could to where my son knew exactly what he was watching his dad do.
“It’s my health. It’s my body. And I feel like this is what’s best for me and my family. I love the game of football. If I didn’t, I would’ve quit a long time [ago].”
Concussions are a serious topic, and the conversations surrounding these injuries should be taken seriously due to the drastic impact they can have on a person’s life after the game.
Tagovailoa needs to consider what’s best for him in the long run, and if another concussion does occur, the best thing for him may be to leave the game.
