Tua Tagovailoa's Concussion and Injury History: A Challenging NFL Journey


Tua Tagovailoa's professional journey has been so spectacular that shines in remarkable performances, including recurring concussions during his NFL journey since 2020, when he joined the Miami Dolphins as a quarterback. It is noted that Tagovailoa has had so many injuries, of which three were major concussions since his rookie season. His injury history dates all the way back to college, Alabama years, so it is kind of impressive he could come back and continue playing. Having said that, these health issues have caused some to consider his future, retirement talk having started due to this recent concussion in 2024.

Early College Years and First Big Injuries

Tua Tagovailoa's rise to fame began in the University of Alabama, when he played two consecutive seasons without injury in 2017 and 2018. In 2018, as a sophomore, Tua Tagovailoa became the conductor in leading the Crimson Tide to an ultimate National Championship victory, becoming the best of the college quarterbacks of his age group. The injury bug caught up with him in 2019.


Then during a game versus Tennessee as his junior season was already underway, he twisted an ankle severely enough to require surgery for a high ankle sprain. He returned for another game just three weeks later, but his subsequent injury came soon and was decidedly more serious; during a game against Mississippi State, Tagovailoa received a string of injuries in one play: a broken pelvis, a dislocated hip, a broken nose, and his first concussion. These injuries were so severe that he had to cut his college career short and declare for the 2020 NFL Draft, still being one of the top prospects, but because of health issues.


NFL Career: Concussions and Other Injuries

Credit: USA Today 

Tagovailoa didn't have it easy when he arrived in the NFL. In 2020, he was drafted to the Miami Dolphins, and before he knew it, he became their starting quarterback. However, four weeks into his rookie season, he injured his thumb during a practice session, causing him to miss one game. A year later, in 2021, the second-year quarterback suffered fractured ribs after playing the Buffalo Bills during Week 2. That resulted in sitting him out for three games.

Despite these early setbacks, it was during the 2022 season that his concussion history began to seriously question. He stumbled on the field after taking a hard hit playing against the Bills in Week 3, which could have been a head injury for many. The Dolphins, however labeled it as a back injury and had the NFLPA critiquing that it was a violation of concussion protocol.


Just a week later, in a prime time game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Tagovailoa sustained a severe head injury on being sacked. He responded with what is referred to as the "fencing response" — a physical reaction to traumatic brain injury which becomes one of the hallmark features of a condition with unusual posturing of the arms and hands —and lost consciousness. Tagovailoa was rushed to the hospital immediately where it was found that he had sustained head and neck injuries. It took place right in front of a national audience, and the incident sparked outrage across the football world pertaining to player safety and concussion management in the NFL.


Tagovailoa returned for two games but again was out for the season as injuries continued. The player was put into concussion protocol on December 25, 2022, after game with Green Bay Packers; on this occasion, he suffered from symptoms of concussion post-game. He suffered his second diagnosed concussion within a few months of time.

2024 Season: Another Concussion Raises Retirement Questions


Entering 2024, Tagovailoa had avoided injuries and played every game in '23, which was an excellent omen for the Dolphins. This streak, however, ended Week 2 in the 2024 season when Tagovailoa scrambled for a first down during a Thursday Night Football game with the Buffalo Bills, by colliding with Bills safety Damar Hamlin. The impact caused the back of Tagovailoa's head to knock onto the ground and, for the second time in his life, reacted with the fencing response-the other severe concussion.


Miami put Tagovailoa on injured reserve and made him inactive for at least four games. Tagovailoa's fourth concussion of his career fuelled debate on whether he should retire as a quarterback. In fact, Tagovailoa revealed, before the 2023 season, that he was contemplating retirement due to the injuries he sustained in 2022. However, recent news suggests that the player is unlikely to retire anytime soon.

Tagovailoa's Contract and Futures with the NFL


Yet the injury history, the Miami Dolphins have invested in Tagovailoa. He was signed to a four-year, $212.4 million contract extension back in July of 2024, with $167.1 million guaranteed. That deal makes Tagovailoa one of the highest-paid quarterbacks in the league-a testament to the confidence the Dolphins must have in his ability and potential.


The deal is worth $53.1 million annually and ranks the contract fifth in the NFL. The quarterbacks who have gotten record-setting deals like Joe Burrow and Trevor Lawrence barely beat it out at $54 million per year. Guaranteed money puts Tagovailoa also in the top 10 for all NFL quarterbacks.


Dolphins Impact and Tagovailoa Career Statistics


Tagovailoa's absence from the Dolphins' lineup has been a bitter blow since he was in several games where he gave the best of performances. Throughout his career, Tagovailoa has thrown **66.8% of his passes** for more than 13,000 yards and has thrown 83 touchdowns together with 40 interceptions. His support to running plays by six rushing touchdowns is making him a dual-threat quarterback when fit.


But the 2024 season hasn't been as kind to Tagovailoa. He was at a 64.5% rate in the two games he appeared in ahead of his latest concussion, for 483 passing yards, two touchdowns, and three interceptions — far removed from what he did last year.

Conclusion: A Promising Career Under Threat

This is the story of Tua Tagovailoa's career-a tale of resilience. Despite three NFL-concussions and various other health issues, he continues to struggle for his spot on the field. His talent is evident enough in his contract and career statistics; however, one can only be left wondering how many more times he can withstand what the NFL dangles before him. His future will depend not only on how well he performs but also on his ability to avoid further injuries as the debate about player safety grows.