The Las Vegas Raiders' head coach proposes advising Tua Tagovailoa to retire after his most recent concussion incident.
Last Thursday, during the 31-10 defeat against the Buffalo Bills, Tagovailoa needed to exit the pitch in the third quarter following a head collision while attempting a tackle for a first down, instigated by Bills safety Damar Hamlin.
At Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, the 26-year-old remained motionless on the ground and was tended to by Dolphins medical personnel. Tagovailoa eventually walked off the field under his own power, handing over the helm to backup quarterback Skylar Thompson.
Subsequently, Raiders head coach Josh Pierce advocated for Tagovailoa to retire from football.
“I’d advise him to hang up his cleats, it's not worth it,” Pierce told reporters on Friday. “It’s not worth it to take part in the game - I’ve never seen anything like what happened to him happening three times before. It's petrifying. You can see the alarm on the players’ faces on the field, and everyone is rushed to lend assistance to Tua.”
Tagovailoa had previously endured a raft of concussions, suffering multiple instances throughout the 2022 season. In 2023, he confided that he was considering abandoning football for a while due to these lingering neurological issues.
“I simply believe that at some stage, he’ll live longer than his football career,” Pierce continued. “Look after your family.”
Miami Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel emphasized Tagovailoa’s well-being over his team’s future post-incident.
“What matters most is that he recuperates every day,” McDaniel shared with reporters during a video conference on Friday. “The ideal way I can contribute to this is by not trying to speculate on the football repercussions.”
McDaniel swiftly dismissed queries about Tagovailoa potentially considering retirement.
“Exploring that subject would be extremely inappropriate of me,” McDaniel replied. “You’re discussing his career, aren’t you? It’s his career that belongs to him.”
“Tua is the central figure in this situation,” McDaniel reiterated later. “His thoughts, feelings, and ambitions over his life and career, in conjunction with neuroscientist experts, hold sway over these decisions.”
CNN journalist Jacob Lev contributed to the reporting.
Despite the concerns about his health, Tagovailoa expressed his love for the sport and his desire to continue playing, citing the yourtility and thrill it brings him.
The NFL is currently reviewing the incidents surrounding Tagovailoa's concussions to ensure the safety of all players in future sports events.
