One former player who can provide wisdom to Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa is Steve Young, who was forced to hang up his cleats due to concussions.
Concussions and their long-term effects have become a significant concern in the NFL.
Tua Tagovailoa needs to prioritize his long-term health after suffering another head injury Thursday night, but ultimately, the decision is his.
Hall of Famer Steve Young, the 15-year veteran who had his playing days cut to an abrupt end after sustaining two concussions early in the 1999 season and several more concussions over his career, gave a harsh outlook for Tua while sharing his concerns and personal experience while on the Dan Patrick Show.
“I could tell you that if that happened to me – where you’re in these dramatic situations on the field with obviously severe concussions – now that I’ve lived longer, I would scream back, you know, be super careful,” Young said.
“The problem is you can go to all neurologists, and they’ll say, ‘Well, I would if I were you, or it seems like the best idea.’ No one’s going to say go play because that’s dangerous.”
HOFer @SteveYoungQB discusses Tua Tagovailoa’s multiple concussions and why it’s so hard for professional athletes to walk away from the game. pic.twitter.com/HNSMsSYbyM
— Dan Patrick Show (@dpshow) September 16, 2024
“It’s the hardest thing to ask of someone – to ask them to give up the thing they’re best at.”
“The brain is the last frontier. We must proceed with caution and care.”
It’s the hardest thing to ask of someone – to ask them to give up the thing they’re best at.
The brain is the last frontier. We must proceed with caution and care. https://t.co/8HqaOKRUIS
— Steve Young (@SteveYoungQB) September 17, 2024
Studies have shown that NFL players, particularly those who have experienced multiple concussions like Tua Tagovailoa, may be at higher risk for various neurological issues later in life.
That is what fans, experts, and his peers want him to stay away from.
Making millions of dollars in the league is nice, but it means nothing if you can’t even enjoy it after your playing days are over.
The discovery of CTE in the brains of deceased NFL players has been particularly alarming, and if Tua Tagovailoa continues on this route, he will, unfortunately, be on a long list of deceased former players who were diagnosed with it.
Dolphins Placing QB Tua Tagovailoa on Injured Reserve
NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport reported that Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa will not retire.
The Miami Dolphins placed him on injured reserve Tuesday after the quarterback suffered another concussion in Thursday’s loss to the Buffalo Bills.
This marked the third diagnosed concussion of Tagovailoa’s NFL career.
In the meantime, Miami signed quarterback Tyler Huntley from the Baltimore Ravens’ practice squad.
Third-year quarterback Skylar Thompson for the foreseeable future.
