Tua Tagovailoa, the quarterback for the Miami Dolphins, has received yet another concussion, rekindling common concern for his long-term wellbeing. After making contact with Bills safety Damar Hamlin while attempting to get a first down in the red area, the fifth-year signal-caller was declared out of Thursday night’s 31-10 damage to the Buffalo Bills.
The event has put a fresh light on the four-year,$ 212.1 million contract extension he signed over the summer, which includes$ 167 million in guaranteed income. If Tagovailoa is recalled or missed due to injury, that guaranteed income is typically distributed. The decision to retire, however, was put those earnings in danger.
The calling for him to step aside began promptly, both from virtual punditry and during Amazon’s spread of the game. ” If that was my brother, I would be like,’ It might be day.’ Pro Football Hall of Famer Tony Gonzalez said on Thursday night’s podcast show on Amazon,” This thing is not what you want to play around with.” ” Tua’s future? I’m thinking pension around”.

Tagovailoa recently claimed that his family had advised him to retire after the 2022 season after being diagnosed with two concussions, one of which occurred in Week 4 and the other in Week 16. He said in an interview on The Dan LeBatard Show last month,” I may say for sure, specifically with what happened with the concussion.” ” It was more so my mother. You can see why parents are the way they are.
Tagovailoa has three injuries diagnosed throughout his NFL career in addition to leg injuries and other conditions. He even suffered one in 2019 while at Alabama, where he starred in school.
The Dolphins were criticized for managing an injury that caused him to stumbling on the industry during a Week 3 game against the Bills in 2022. He was cleared to perform in Week 4, but the firm determined it was a back problem, and he only left with a injury against Cincinnati. Soon thereafter, the NFL and NFLPA agreed to affect trauma protocols.
If he’s medically cleared to play but chooses to retire, Tagovailoa will give up the remaining$ 124 million of guaranteed money, provided there’s no settlement. But if he’s clinically forced to retire, he’d also get all the guaranteed money.
According to Spotrac,$ 43 million of the guaranteed amount —his$ 42 million signing bonus plus a$ 1 million base salary—has already been paid out in 2024. People have previously been required to return payable regions of their income bonuses upon pensions, though.
Former Green Bay Packers vice president of player fund Andrew Brandt criticized the Cleveland Browns QB’s$ 230 million fully guaranteed contract, saying “guarantees are n’t actually guarantees unless you’re Deshaun Watson.” ” The key word is usually’ guaranteed at signing.'”
An injury guarantee clause in a player contract is n’t very valuable, according to Brandt, because most injuries are n’t severe enough to trigger the clause, and the player must be unable to play in subsequent years based on a previous injury. ” An ACL is pretty much going to resolve in a year”, he said. ” Go accidents get a little tough. I do n’t think we’ve been down this path before”.

Tagovailoa is n’t the first NFL player to have to weigh his current desire to return to the field against his long-term health.
At the age of 29, former NFL Defensive Player of the Year Mark Kuechly retired for health reasons, leaving apparently$ 22 million on the table. He also had three documented injuries as a pro, missing 10 games combined. ” I still want to play, but I do n’t think it’s the right decision”, he said when announcing his decision.
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck, who is 29 years old, turned down the$ 58 million option on his contract when he retired in 2019. Of sure, he probably would have earned more had he put in a whole career. ” Look it, he’s leaving$ 450 million on the table potentially”, Colts owner Jim Irsay said at the time.
Indianapolis allow Luck keep around$ 25 million in bonuses, retaining his right in the process.
When Calvin Johnson, the Detroit Lions receiver, retired at age 30 in 2016, he gave up the$ 68 million he was supposed to receive over the course of the 2016-2019 seasons as well as a$ 1.6 million portion of his previously agreed upon signing bonus.
The next step is still up to Tagovailoa and his physician, for now.
” His occupation is his”, Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel said Friday. He does not have the best interest in discussing his coming. Everyone who cares sincerely should be the last thing on your mind, I’m going to make a plea to them.
This year, Ravens cornerback Kyle Van Noy’s issue about not being treated quickly enough after a blow to the encounter also came up in relation to the treatment of head injuries. A damaged planetary spine was discovered in Van Noy. He claimed that he feels lucky not to have experienced a more serious loss.
More reporting by Eric Jackson.
( This story has been updated with Andrew Brandt quotations. )