Another concussion for Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has renewed public concern for his long-term health. The fifth-year signal-caller was ruled out of Thursday night’s 31-10 loss to the Buffalo Bills after making contact with Bills safety Damar Hamlin while scrambling for a first down in the red zone.
The incident has put a new spotlight on the four-year, $212.1 million contract extension he signed over the summer, which includes $167 million in guaranteed money. Generally speaking, that guaranteed money is paid out if Tagovailoa remains on a roster or is cut due to an injury. The decision to retire, meanwhile, could put those earnings in jeopardy.
The calls for him to step away began immediately, both from online punditry and during Amazon’s broadcast of the game. “If that was my son, I would be like, ‘It might be time.’ This stuff is not what you want to play around with,” Pro Football Hall of Famer Tony Gonzalez said on Amazon’s postgame show Thursday night. “Tua’s future? I’m thinking retirement here.”
Tagovailoa previously said his family suggested that he should retire after the 2022 season, when he was diagnosed with two concussions—one in Week 4, and another in Week 16. “I would say for sure, especially with what happened with the concussions,” he said in an interview on The Dan LeBatard Show last month. “It was more so my mom. … You can understand why mothers are the way they are.”
On top of hip injuries and other ailments, Tagovailoa now has three diagnosed concussions during his NFL career. He also suffered one in 2019 while at Alabama, where he starred in college.
In 2022, the Dolphins were criticized for how they managed an injury that led him to stumble on the field during a Week 3 matchup against the Bills. The organization deemed it a back issue, and he was cleared to play in Week 4, only leave with a concussion against Cincinnati. Shortly thereafter, the NFL and NFLPA agreed to alter concussion 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. Yet if he’s medically forced to retire, he’d still 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. However, players have been required to return prorated portions of their salary bonuses upon retirement in the past.
“Guarantees aren’t really guarantees unless you’re Deshaun Watson,” former Green Bay Packers vice president of player finance Andrew Brandt said, referencing the Cleveland Browns QB’s $230 million fully guaranteed deal signed in 2022. “The key phrase is always ‘guaranteed at signing.'”
Brandt says an injury guarantee clause in a player contract isn’t very valuable, since the player must be unable to play in future years based on a previous injury, and most aren’t severe enough to trigger the clause. “An ACL is pretty much going to resolve in a year,” he said. “Head injuries get a little trickier. I don’t think we’ve been down this path before.”
Still, Tagovailoa isn’t the first NFL player to face the difficult decision of weighing his long-term health with his current desire to return to the field.
Former NFL Defensive Player of the Year Luke Kuechly retired for health reasons at age 29 in 2020, reportedly leaving $22 million on the table. He also had three documented concussions as a pro, missing 10 games combined. “I still want to play, but I don’t think it’s the right decision,” he said when announcing his decision.
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck turned away from $58 million left on his deal when he retired in 2019, also at age 29. Of course, he likely would have earned more had he put in a full career. “Look it, he’s leaving $450 million on the table potentially,” Colts owner Jim Irsay said at the time.
Indianapolis let Luck keep roughly $25 million in bonuses, retaining his rights in the process.
When Detroit Lions receiver Calvin Johnson retired at 30 in 2016, he gave up the $68 million he was due to receive over the course of the 2016-2019 seasons as well as a $1.6 million slice of his previously agreed upon signing bonus.
For now, the next step remains in the hands of Tagovailoa and his doctor.
“His career is his,” Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel said Friday. “Bringing up his future is not in the best interest of him. I’m going to plead with everybody that does genuinely care that that should be the last thing on your mind.”
The treatment of NFL head injuries also came up this week in relation to Ravens linebacker Kyle Van Noy’s complaint about not being treated quickly enough following a blow to the face. Van Noy was diagnosed with a fractured orbital bone. He said he feels fortunate not to have sustained a more severe setback.
Additional reporting by Eric Jackson.
(This story has been updated with quotes from Andrew Brandt.)
