Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa Considered Retirement Following Concussions

Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is only 25 years old, but he considered retirement after suffering multiple concussions last season, the quarterback told reporters on Wednesday.

"Yeah, I think I considered it for a time," Tagovailoa said. "Having sat down with my family, having sat down with my wife and having those kind of conversations, 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."

Tagovailoa was stretchered off the field during the Dolphins' loss to the Cincinnati Bengals on Sept. 29 after being swung to the ground and hitting his head. That came just four days after Tagovailoa was removed from Miami's game against the Buffalo Bills after exhibiting concussion-like symptoms. Tagovailoa was cleared to return against the Bills and to play against the Bengals.

However, the incident started a joint investigation by the NFL Players Association and the league, ending in changes being made to the NFL's concussion protocol. The most significant change was any player exhibiting symptoms of a condition called ataxia – such as abnormality of balance caused by a neurological issue – would be immediately removed from the game and could not return to the game that day.

Tagovailoa's second concussion occurred during the Dolphins' Christmas Day loss to the Green Bay Packers. The quarterback wasn't removed from the game, but he reported concussion-like symptoms to coach Mike McDaniel the following day. Tagovailoa missed Miami's final two regular season games and its playoff loss to the Bills.

On Wednesday, Tagovailoa said he's been learning how to fall and building strength in his neck and lower body this offseason.

“You think it’s easy, just fall down and don’t hit your head," Tagovailoa said. "But it’s a lot more to it than that.”

When he was on the field in 2022, Tagovailoa led one of the NFL's most explosive offenses. In 13 games, he threw for 3,548 yards, 25 touchdowns and eight interceptions. This offseason, the Dolphins picked up Tagovailoa's fifth-year option for the 2024 season, which will pay him $23.2 million.