Since being chosen with the No. 5 general choose within the 2020 NFL Draft, former Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has skilled an uneven begin to his profession however appeared to flourish underneath coach Mike McDaniel in 2022. The 26-year-old demonstrated the potential to be Miami’s first franchise quarterback since Dan Marino.
Nevertheless, simply two video games into the 2024 season, his profession is now in query. Tagovailoa sustained a concussion throughout Miami’s loss to the Buffalo Payments on Thursday, prompting discussions about whether or not he ought to take into account retirement.
Right here’s all the things we learn about how the subject of retirement impacts his contract and what the remainder of his season with the group may appear like.
A Look Inside Tagovailoa’s Contract
This offseason, Dolphins common supervisor Chris Grier rewarded Tagovailoa’s enhancements with a four-year, $212.4 million contract extension. Of this, $167.1 million is assured, with roughly $42 million already paid out this 12 months.
In response to Michael Ginnitti of Spotrac, if Tagovailoa is cleared to play however opts to retire, he would forfeit the remaining $124 million except he negotiates a settlement to get well it. Nevertheless, if he’s compelled to retire because of medical causes, he can be entitled to that $124 million.
Ginnitti famous on X, “The opposite aspect of this equation will get a little bit more durable. If Tua passes a bodily subsequent March, the Dolphins might launch him, with solely his $50 million of 2025 compensation remaining on the books.”
He added that the $54 million the Dolphins owe Tagovailoa for 2026 will turn into assured on March 14. Releasing him after June would end in $83.6 million in useless cap over the ultimate two years of his contract.
Ginnitti commented, “My assumption is that gamers wish to play. It’s all they’ve performed in life thus far. Regardless of this being the fourth main head damage, I’d guess that Tua might be cleared by subsequent March. This case places stress on the Dolphins to both transfer ahead (figuring out that one other $54 million will turn into assured) or launch him. Another choice could possibly be renegotiating the contract to supply the group with extra safety if Tua needs to proceed his profession.”
Has Tagovailoa Thought of Retirement?
Final 12 months, Tagovailoa revealed to reporters that he had thought of retiring after experiencing a sequence of concussions in 2022.
“I thought of it for a time, having sat down with my household, having sat down with my spouse and having these sorts of conversations,” he stated. “However, actually, it could be laborious for me to stroll away from this recreation. With how previous I’m; with my son — I at all times dreamed of taking part in so long as I might, to the place my son knew precisely what he was watching his dad do.”
Tagovailoa added, “It’s my well being. It’s my physique. I really feel like that is what’s finest for me and my household. I like the sport of soccer. If I didn’t, I’d have give up a very long time in the past.”
Has Anybody Else Skilled a Comparable State of affairs?
Ginnitti advised Entrance Workplace Sports activities that no participant with a contract like Tagovailoa’s has confronted a scenario fairly like this earlier than. The closest comparability is Andrew Luck, who retired fairly than signing a considerable new deal however nonetheless walked away with over $16 million from the Colts.
Luck, the previous quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts, retired from the NFL unexpectedly in August 2019. His resolution got here after coping with a sequence of accidents and setbacks through the years, together with a very troublesome calf-ankle damage that had plagued him in the course of the 2018 season and lingered into 2019.
Upon his retirement, Luck walked away from a considerable sum of money. Nevertheless, his resolution—pushed by the bodily and emotional toll of fixed rehabilitation and accidents—sparked discussions about participant well being, the pressures {of professional} sports activities, and the broader psychological and bodily challenges athletes face.
