It was a routine run for a primary down, the type that quarterbacks do each week within the Nationwide Soccer League.

However Tua Tagovailoa of the Miami Dolphins leaned headfirst into the deal with, and the impression in opposition to the defender’s chest despatched his head sharply to the left. Afterward, he collapsed to the bottom, together with his proper fist balled and raised into the air in what gave the impression to be a telltale signal of mind damage.

Later through the Thursday-night sport, the Miami Dolphins made it official: Tagovailoa had suffered a concussion, the newest for the 26-year-old whose profession had already come to be outlined by his worrying historical past of mind damage.

Now, Tagovailoa’s concussion has prompted a dramatic response by followers and former gamers alike who’ve urged him to retire — a mirrored image of a rising consciousness among the many American public of the dangers of the long-term mind harm that may observe hits to the pinnacle. Even a present coach has known as for him to retire.

“I will be sincere, I might inform him to retire. It is not value it,” stated Antonio Pierce, the pinnacle coach of the Las Vegas Raiders, talking at a press convention Friday. “I simply suppose sooner or later, he will stay longer than he will play soccer. Deal with your loved ones.”

Throughout broadcast and social media, former gamers and followers alike shared the identical sentiment. “If I am him, at this level, I am severely contemplating retiring from soccer. If that was my son, I might be like, ‘It could be time.’ These items will not be what you mess around with,” stated Tony Gonzalez, a Corridor of Fame tight finish for the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs and the Atlanta Falcons, talking after the sport as an analyst on Amazon Prime’s broadcast.

“Actually hope Tua is okay, however he’s gotta severely take into consideration shutting it [down],” stated Shannon Sharpe, the previous Denver Broncos tight finish. “His concussions are getting worse and worse and he’s a younger man together with his complete life forward of him.”

Concussions and repeated blows to the pinnacle are key threat elements in long-term mind accidents, together with power traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE, a severe situation that may trigger early dementia and loss of life.

“There isn’t a magic variety of concussions to require retirement,” stated Chris Nowinski, a former soccer participant {and professional} wrestler who later pursued neuroscience and now heads the Concussion Legacy Basis.

“All of it is determined by how he recovers from this one, however having too many concussions can result in power signs and psychological well being issues,” Nowinski continued, writing on the social media web site X. “He is in a really robust spot.”

A small variety of NFL gamers have left the game early over considerations about their neurological well being, together with the Carolina Panthers All-Professional linebacker Luke Kuechly and the San Francisco 49ers linebacker Chris Borland, who retired after just one season within the NFL.

“With Tua, there’s the added stress of being the star of the franchise, the participant that they are constructing round,” Borland informed NPR in 2022. “It is vital that gamers are higher protected as a result of, if left to their very own units, for 100 totally different incentives, we’d do something to get again on the sector.”

In 2022, the NFL revised its concussion analysis protocol after Tagovailoa was allowed to re-enter a sport after sustaining what gave the impression to be a head damage when he was cleared by medical analysis. In one other sport simply 4 days later, he hit his head once more, this time with a proper prognosis of concussion. Weeks later, he sustained yet one more concussion and missed the remainder of the season.

After that, he consulted docs and household about whether or not to proceed taking part in. In a podcast interview final month, Tagovailoa stated some members of the family, particularly his mom, had requested him to contemplate quitting.

“It was simply introduced up right here and there, like, ‘I do not suppose it’s best to proceed to play and whatnot, however we’ll all the time help what you need to do,'” he informed The Dan Le Batard Present with Stugotz podcast. “I get it. I obtained youngsters too, now, and you may perceive why the moms are the best way they’re.”

However he determined to stay with soccer. Forward of the next season, Tagovailoa devoted his offseason to change into much less susceptible to concussions. He took jiu jitsu courses and skilled in methods to roll his physique when falling, quite than permitting his head to hit the turf.

The 2023 season that adopted was the perfect of his profession. He led the league in passing yards and steered the Dolphins to an 11-6 file, their most wins since 2008. In July, he was rewarded with a $212 million contract extension.

Now, ought to he select to retire, how a lot of that compensation he’ll obtain will depend upon whether or not he’s medically cleared to return to soccer.

If he’s cleared to play however retires anyway, Tagovailoa will forgo $124 million. If he’s medically compelled into retirement, he’ll accumulate that cash, in line with Spotrac, a service that tracks skilled sports activities contracts.

After the hit throughout Thursday’s sport, Tagovailoa walked off the sector with out help, and the Dolphins reported that he was in a position to converse with medical employees within the locker room.

On Friday, head coach Mike McDaniel declined to take a position a couple of timeline for Tagovailoa’s return. “The most effective factor I can do will not be attempt to assess what this even means from a soccer standpoint,” McDaniel stated. “Making an attempt to satisfy [timelines], attempting to evaluate what this implies for enjoying — that is heavy stuff.”

As of Friday afternoon, Tagovailoa had not commented publicly on his choices.

Copyright 2024 NPR