Miami Dolphins News & Rumors

As he deals with his fourth diagnosed concussion in the last five years (counting his final collegiate season), Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is set to meet with neurologists within the next couple of days, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The 2023 Pro Bowler is naturally trying to collect as much information as possible before deciding on his playing future, but as Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network reports, Tagovailoa has no plans to retire (video link).

Of course, Tagovailoa will go through the league’s concussion protocol, a process that was modified as a result of his previous head injuries in 2022. As Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports notes, the protocol will be the same for Tagovailoa as it is for all other players, although the southpaw passer is one of just a few players – and the only quarterback – who has entered the protocol three separate times in the last five years (Jones also notes that, at the time of his latest injury, Tagovailoa was wearing the helmet that the league and union agree is currently the best at minimizing the severity of impacts to the head).

If Tagovailoa clears the protocol, he will have an important decision to make, one which will have a tremendous impact on his financial future. Per Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, the four-year, $212.4MM extension that Miami authorized for Tagovailoa at the end of July does not include any concussion-related provisions or carve-outs for either the player or the team, despite the unfortunate history here. 

Of the $212.4MM total value of Tagovailoa’s new contract, roughly $167MM is guaranteed for injury. $43MM of that figure has already been paid out, so if Tagovailoa is cleared to play but chooses to retire – as noted above, he presently has no intention of doing so – he would forfeit the remaining $124MM, absent some sort of settlement with the Dolphins (h/t Spotrac). The ‘Fins could also seek to recover paid but unearned signing bonus money, which would amount to $8.4MM per year through 2028 and roughly $466K for each game left in 2024 after he is cleared (via Florio). 

Luckily, both Rapoport and Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald hear that Tagovailoa will not be forced into retirement. But if for some reason he does not receive medical clearance, then the team would still need to pay him the $124MM in remaining injury guarantees. While the contract itself does not include any special language regarding concussions, the Dolphins did take out an insurance policy that would cover up to $49.3MM of that $124MM figure, as Jason Fitzgerald of OverTheCap.com notes.

Needless to say, the primary concern here is Tagovailoa’s long-term health, though the financial component of the situation cannot be ignored. At this time, there is no timeframe for a resolution, with head coach Mike McDaniel saying he is not focused on his quarterback’s return to the field. 

“You’re talking about his career — his career is his,” McDaniel said. “I just wish that people would for a second hear what I’m saying, that bringing up his future is not in the best interest of him. So, I’m going to plead with everybody that does genuinely care that that should be the last thing on your mind.”

After he left last night’s loss against the Bills with a concussion, many have been speculating about the future of Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. An extensive history of head injuries has many wondering if yesterday’s latest brain trauma will lead to the end of Tagovailoa’s NFL career.

Last night offered another scary scene for those who have followed Tagovailoa throughout his time in Miami. After lowering his head into a tackle by Damar Hamlin, who is no stranger to scary injuries, Tagovailoa exhibited signs of unconsciousness as he laid writhing on the ground demonstrating what is called a fencing response. It was the second such instance in the past two years.

In a Week 3 game against the Bills in 2022, Tagovailoa left the contest with a reported back injury before returning to finish the game. Many suspected that the team may have violated concussion protocols by letting him return, but he was back in the starting lineup the following week, regardless. In the Week 4 matchup with the Bengals, Tagovailoa was sacked and demonstrated the fencing response for the first time, leading to an exit and a two-game absence. He later missed the last two games of the season under concussion protocol.

After a fully healthy 2023 season, Miami rewarded Tagovailoa with a four-year, $212.4MM extension, including 167.17MM in guarantees. With so many wondering about the potential end of Tagovailoa’s career due to the frequency of his brain injuries, Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald took a look at what that would mean financially.

Firstly, it seems wildly unlikely that the Dolphins would make the decision to move on from Tagovailoa if he is medically cleared. First of all, they gave him his extension under the assumption that he would be their quarterback of the future. If he is able to return, they’ll likely stick with that assumption, especially after his 2023 season. Second, releasing a healthy Tagovailoa would require the team to eat $83.65MM in dead money.

On Tagovailoa’s side, if the 26-year-old were to pass a physical but still decide to retire, the Dolphins would be left with $33.6MM in dead money, per Jason Fitzgerald of OvertheCap.com, which they would be able to spread over the 2025 and 2026 seasons. That option seems unlikely, as well, though, as it would require Tagovailoa to pass up several of millions of dollars that he has already been guaranteed.

Though many are worried for the health and safety of the former Alabama passer, his recent extension makes it difficult to see a swift end to NFL career. Decisions may be made to limit his exposure and playing time if injuries continue to occur, but with so much money on the table, expect both Tagovailoa and the Dolphins to keep working to forge a way forward together.