{"id":20410,"date":"2025-01-19T03:31:11","date_gmt":"2025-01-19T03:31:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usatoday.azontree.com\/?p=20410"},"modified":"2025-01-19T03:31:18","modified_gmt":"2025-01-19T03:31:18","slug":"tua-tagovailoa-ill-die-on-the-field-for-this-game","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usatoday.azontree.com\/?p=20410","title":{"rendered":"Tua Tagovailoa: \u2018I\u2019ll die on the field for this game\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\n
\n
\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/header>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\"Tua<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Jasen Vinlove-Imagn Images<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n

Miami Dolphins\u00a0quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has suffered numerous concussions during his career that have raised concerns about his health beyond football.<\/p>\n

The 26-year-old\u2019s most recent concussion came during the 2024 season. It brought back some haunting memories of his 2022 season, when he suffered at least two concussions and had countless folks worried for his safety.<\/p>\n

His most recent concussion resulted in more\u00a0calls for him to retire\u00a0from some corners of the sports world.\u00a0However, according to Tagovailoa\u2019s\u00a0father, the quarterback loves football so much that he\u2019s willing to \u201cdie on the field\u201d for it.<\/p>\n

\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\u201cThe game is something that he loves,\u201d Tagovailoa\u2019s father\u00a0said. \u201cOne of the things that I talked to him when he was going through his concussion was: Hey, what do you think? And he\u2019s like, \u2018Dad, I love this game, and I\u2019ll die on the field for this game.\u2019 So that answers everything for me. But at the same time as a father, you\u2019re like, \u2018Man, you got to take care of your health. That\u2019s the most important thing. You have a family.\u2019 I have two beautiful grandkids, and that\u2019s something that I got to talk to him about. Something to think about. \u2026<\/p>\n

\u201cHis wife is such a beautiful lady, and she\u2019s all about his health. And she tells him, \u2018I want to live long with you. We got to make sure we do the right thing.\u2019 But you know, Tua grew up in a way that everything is just so competitive. He just don\u2019t want to leave the game. I mean, the kid loves it. But I believe the Lord has a plan for him and wherever the Lord takes him, that\u2019s a decision he\u2019s going to have to make with his family.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

In September, Tagovailoa admitted that he did consider retirement \u201cfor a time\u201d after the 2022 season.<\/p>\n