Minutes after Tua Tagovailoa suffered his latest concussion Thursday, former NFL players took to social media — and later to national broadcasts — to call for the Miami Dolphins quarterback to step away from football.
Thursday’s concussion comes less than two years after Tagovailoa suffered numerous head injuries in the 2022 season, which forced him to miss extensive time. After that season, he told reporters he considered retiring.
Following Thursday’s concussion recurrence, a wave of former and current NFL players suggested now is the time for Tagovailoa to walk away from the game.
Before time expired in the Dolphins’ 31-10 loss to the Buffalo Bills, Hall of Fame tight end Shannon Sharp and former Dallas Cowboys star Dez Bryant both said Tagovailoa needs to retire.
That’s it….
NFL go ahead and do the right thing
Tua has had entirely way too many concussions
He need to retire for his longevity health concerns
— Dez Bryant (@DezBryant) September 13, 2024
Really hope Tua is ok, but he’s gotta seriously think about shutting it dwn. I H8 saying this. His concussions are getting worse and worse and he’s a young man with his entire life ahead of him. #BillsFins #ThursdayNightFootball.
— shannon sharpe (@ShannonSharpe) September 13, 2024
Speaking to reporters after the game, Dolphins backup quarterback Skylar Thompson, who entered the game in the third quarter after Tagovailoa was injured, said he and his teammates care more about Tagovailoa as a person than a player.
“It makes me sick. … It sucks,” Thompson said.
“You care about the person more than the player and everybody in our organization would say the same thing. So just really praying for Tua and hopefully everything will come out alright. It was tough to see though.”
Former All-Pro offensive lineman Mitchell Schwartz, who played with the Cleveland Browns and Kansas City Chiefs, said in response to a follower that he personally believes Tagovailoa should call it quits.
Personally, yes. It’s easy for me to say but it’s sad to see and you have no idea what the ramifications will be later in life. But it’s clear that his body can’t handle those hits to the head/neck area, with the scary reactions he has. And at some point you got to get hit. https://t.co/NWkzQp0fNv
— Mitchell Schwartz (@MitchSchwartz71) September 13, 2024
Calls for Tagovailoa to retire didn’t just come from former players, but at least one current player as well. Free agent safety Adrian Amos, who played with the New York Jets and Houston Texans last season, said it’s time for Tagovailoa to “hang up the cleats” and be with his family.
Oh no! . Man time to just hang up the cleats and be with your fam . it ain’t worth it man . That’s tough to see . Praying for a fast recovery,
— Adrian Amos (@_SmashAmos31) September 13, 2024
On the Amazon Prime broadcast after the game, former All-Pros Tony Gonzalez and Richard Sherman both said Tagovailoa should plan for life beyond football.
“If I’m (Tua) at this point, I’m seriously considering retiring from football,” Gonzalez said after the game. “Tua’s future? I’m thinking retirement here.”
Former Pittsburgh Steelers All-Pro receiver Antonio Brown echoed the retirement sentiment, warning that concussions are “not something to mess with.”
In all seriousness
Tua may want to rethink playing football in the future depending on severity
Concussions not something to mess with
— AB (@AB84) September 13, 2024
Required reading
(Photo: Peter Joneleit / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)