Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa's third diagnosed concussion has raised concerns about his long-term health and whether he should consider retiring from the NFL. ESPN's Stephen A. Smith and Elle Duncan weigh in on the topic, discussing the sacrifices athletes make for their families and the importance of prioritizing quality of life.
Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa's third diagnosed concussion has sparked a debate about his health and whether he should consider retiring from the NFL. The latest head injury occurred during the Dolphins' loss to the Buffalo Bills in the first "Thursday Night Football" game of the season.
Tagovailoa's concussion history has raised concerns about the long-term effects of repeated head trauma. He also suffered a concussion in the 2021 season and another suspected concussion earlier this year.
Tua Tagovailoa's Health and Retirement Debate: Perspectives from Experts
ESPN's Stephen A. Smith and "SportsCenter" anchor Elle Duncan discussed the issue on Friday's edition of "First Take." Smith suggested that men, like athletes, are often willing to make sacrifices for their families, even to the detriment of their own health.
"You’re willing to put it all on the line to secure the well-being of your family in perpetuity, even in the event you’re not around," Smith said. "There are sacrifices that I make as a father all the time. I’m not around my daughters as much as I would like to be. I’m not with my family as much as I would like to be. Sometimes they resent it and what have you. I don’t care. And you know why I don’t care? Because I grew up starving."
Tua Tagovailoa's Health and Retirement Debate: Perspectives from Experts
Duncan, on the other hand, emphasized the importance of considering quality of life and the risks of repeated concussions.
"A Black woman in this country, whose mortality rates are incredibly high, I understand making sacrifices and trying to mitigate risk when it comes to your family, expanding your family and protecting your family," Duncan said.
Tua Tagovailoa's Health and Retirement Debate: Perspectives from Experts
Duncan urged Tagovailoa's loved ones to have a "real conversation with him" about his long-term health and the potential consequences of continued football play.
"All I am simply imploring is that anyone in Tua’s corner, someone that truly believes and loves Tua, is having a real conversation with him right now about what quality of life looks like," Duncan said.
Ryan Clark, a former NFL player and current co-host of "The Pivot" podcast, also weighed in on the discussion. He suggested that Tagovailoa may need to consider a "turn" from the thing that has defined his life.
"You host a podcast called ‘The Pivot,' and all of us at some point have got to make a turn from the thing that we were defined by for our entire lives," Duncan said. "I’m hoping someone in that family, someone in his corner that truly loves him, is asking him to sit down and think long and hard about whether he wants to keep doing this."
The Dolphins have added another quarterback to their roster while Tagovailoa recovers from his latest concussion. Backup quarterback Skylar Thompson is expected to start in Tagovailoa's absence.
Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel has emphasized that Tagovailoa's health is the primary focus. The quarterback is expected to undergo further evaluation in Miami on Friday.
The decision of whether Tagovailoa should retire from the NFL is ultimately his own. However, the perspectives offered by experts and the concerns raised about his long-term health should be carefully considered by him and his loved ones.
