On Sunday, September 25th, 2022, Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa stumbled to his feet after getting sacked during the first half of the game against the Buffalo Bills, struggling to stand upright after what many professionals believe was a clear sign of a concussion. Officials cleared him of any head injuries, and Tagovailoa continued playing in the second half.
Four days later on Thursday, September 29th, 2022, Tagovailoa’s teammates and fans watched as he laid unconscious on the field, fingers curled, after another significant impact to the head during a game against the Cincinnati Bengals. After almost 12 minutes, Tagovailoa was taken off the field by stretcher and brought to a local hospital for head and neck injuries. Many medical professionals began to weigh in about the reckless call to allow Tagovailoa to play after Sunday’s incident, bringing into question once again the NFL’s concussion protocol, and whether or not it prioritizes player safety above all else.
NFL Players Association executive director DeMaurice Smith weighed in, stating that the union would consider legal remedies as it investigates whether Tagovailoa should have been allowed to play in Thursday’s game against the Bengals.
Chris Nowinski, the CEO of the Concussion Legacy Foundation, also weighed in, stating that Dolphins quarterback shouldn’t be allowed to play in Thursday’s game just hours before kickoff:
If Tua takes the field tonight, it's a massive step back for #concussion care in the NFL.
— Chris Nowinski, Ph.D. (@ChrisNowinski1) September 29, 2022
If he has a 2nd concussion that destroys his season or career, everyone involved will be sued & should lose their jobs, coaches included. We all saw it, even they must know this isn't right https://t.co/vxpaOif5rh
Take Action by writing to the appropriate members of congress to hold those accountable for making the decision that put Tagovailoa’s health and safety in jeopardy, and for the NFL to enforce stricter concussion policies that would have prevented Tagovailoa from being put in such a carelessly dangerous situation.