Tua Tagovailoa’s latest concussion comes with a number of uneasy what-ifs.
The Dolphins quarterback suffered what is known to be his third such injury in Thursday’s 31-10 loss to the Bills in a scary third-quarter scene in which he ran head-first into Buffalo safety Damar Hamlin.
Adding more concerns surrounding his status are the two previous concussions he endured, both coming in a multi-week span in the 2022 season.
The latest has quickly renewed a heated debate over his future in the NFL and if he should retire, though the Dolphins on Friday aren’t ready to join that discussion yet.
Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (1) sits on the field as he is attended to after an injury during the game against the Buffalo Bills. AP
“I think it’d be so wrong of me to even sniff that subject,” head coach Mike McDaniel told reporters. “It’s more in line with actually caring about the human being. You’re talking about his career … I totally get that’s where people want to go to, but I wish people would hear what I am saying, bringing up his future is not in the best interest of him. I am going to plead with everybody that does genuinely care that should be the last thing on your mind.”
When Tagovailoa, McDaniel and the rest of the Dolphins are in a space to figure things out together, it will come with some big dollar signs next to the question marks that make the matter all the more uncomfortable.
The QB signed a four-year, $212.4 million deal with Miami that begins this year, with $167,171,000 of that guaranteed — $43 million of which has already been paid.
According to Spotrac’s Michael Ginnitti, if Tagovailoa is not medically cleared to return to football, he can collect the remaining $124 million.
Should he be cleared but opt to retire, he would forgo the money.
Come March, Tagovailoa will have to pass a physical — and if he does, the Dolphins could release him with $50 million of his 2025 due “on the hook,” per Ginnitti.
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The QB’s $54 million payout for the 2026 season becomes guaranteed on March 14.
The money, however, isn’t relevant yet. For now, it’s about making sure Tagovailoa can recover for another head injury — no matter how long it takes.
“The furthest thing from my mind is what is the timeline,” McDaniel said. “We just need to evaluate and just worry about my teammate, like the rest of the guys are. We will get more information tomorrow and take it day by day from there.”
