Nick Saban on Tua Tagovailoa’s potential retirement after repeated mind accidents: ‘I hate it’

Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa’s NFL future stays unsure after he sustained his third concussion in three years in Week 2. Tagovailoa was positioned on injured reserve Sept. 17 after he didn’t clear the NFL’s concussion protocols. 

Professional athlete friends and media pundits have referred to as on Tagovailoa to retire for the sake of his well being and life.

Now, his faculty coach has given perception into his discussions with the quarterback over his NFL future. Former Alabama head coach Nick Saban spoke about Tagovailoa’s restoration and future throughout an interview with Pat McAfee Friday. 

“I talked to Tua. He gave the impression to be (good),” Saban mentioned. “I talked to him proper afterwards. , he’s good. He’s at all times constructive and, , very enthusiastic. Terry (Saban’s spouse) talks to his mother lots. , they need prayers from all people on the market to attempt to assist him, , get nicely. He actually needs to play. Whether or not he can ever play or get the chance to once more, I suppose that’s a medical resolution any individual has to make.” 

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Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (1) is assisted on the sector in the course of the second half of a sport in opposition to the Buffalo Payments Sept. 12, 2024, in Miami Gardens, Fla.  (AP Picture/Rebecca Blackwell)

Saban revealed Tagovailoa’s scenario and considerations for his mind well being and profession have had an emotional impact on the previous coach. 

“However, , Tua is the most effective. I imply, and I hate it, I hate it for him, as a result of he’s such a great one that does every little thing the correct means. He’s the one participant that I’ve ever had that in case you ask him, ‘How are you doing in the present day?’ He says, ‘Nice, Coach. Thanks for asking.’ I imply, each time. The man is simply phenomenal. You like to see individuals like that, , have success and never have this type of adversity, however hopefully he’ll be capable of overcome it.”

On Sept. 12, Tagovailoa was hit by Payments security Damar Hamlin throughout a sport in opposition to the Buffalo Payments, collapsed to the turf in ache and confirmed indicators of a traumatic mind harm, in accordance with a number of specialists. Tagovailoa’s historical past of mind accidents consists of two within the span of 1 month within the 2022 season. 

Tagovailoa’s arms froze in what neurologists discuss with because the “fencing response,” an indication of head trauma.

TUA TAGOVAILOA’S RETIREMENT COULD COST DOLPHINS $124 MILLION AFTER GM RELIED ON JIUJITSU TO END HIS CONCUSSIONS

His third concussion prompted cries from former NFL gamers to retire, together with former Dallas Cowboys vast receiver Dez Bryant, Tremendous Bowl champion kicker Lawrence Tynes of the New York Giants and Broncos Corridor of Famer and present ESPN host Shannon Sharpe. 

It’s doable the workforce’s trainers and docs will finally clear Tagovailoa to return to the sector. If this occurs, he would wish to make the choice whether or not to maintain taking part in. There’s additionally a risk docs will not clear him to return. 

If Tagovailoa will not be in a position to go concussion protocols for a 3rd time in his NFL profession, he might be pressured to retire. If he retires, the Dolphins must pay out an enormous chunk of his $212.4 million contract. 

The contract, signed in July by Dolphins common supervisor Chris Grier, consists of $167 million in ensures. Tagovailoa has already made $43 million of that wage, and if he is medically pressured into retirement, he has a proper to gather the remaining $124 million.

Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel talks to quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (1) as he leaves the sport after struggling a concussion in the course of the second half in opposition to the Buffalo Payments Sept. 12, 2024, in Miami Gardens, Fla.  (AP Picture/Rebecca Blackwell)

Nonetheless, if he is cleared to return and chooses to retire anyway, he would forfeit that assured cash. He and the workforce must come to a settlement in that case. 

The contract was signed nicely after his three earlier concussions and even after he admitted he thought-about retirement the prior offseason. However Grier mentioned throughout a workforce press convention Feb. 28 he wasn’t involved concerning the quarterback’s concussion historical past. Grier cited offseason jiujitsu coaching because the treatment for the quarterback’s concussion considerations. 

“The one factor Tua did was he attacked the offseason desirous to show that he might keep wholesome. Spending the time studying to fall, with the jiujitsu and stuff, it paid off for him,” he mentioned. 

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Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel mentioned he and the workforce have been additionally “snug” with jiujitsu being the answer to stopping their quarterback’s concussions. 

Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (1) throws in opposition to the Buffalo Payments in the course of the first quarter at Laborious Rock Stadium. (Sam Navarro/Imagn Photos)

“It is one thing that we had numerous concepts, a few of which I will not repeat as a result of they weren’t pretty much as good as that one. We have been prepared to go to any size,” McDaniel mentioned throughout a workforce press convention Feb. 28. 

McDaniel instructed reporters this week the quarterback will meet with mind well being specialists in the course of the workforce’s bye week as a result of he nonetheless hasn’t cleared concussion protocol. When requested if the workforce has been suggested to carry Tagovailoa out longer even after he is been cleared to return, McDaniel mentioned he has obtained “nothing adverse” from specialists.

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