Mike McDaniel 'pleading' with fans, media to not speculate on Tua Tagovailoa's future

Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel pleaded with fans and media members following his team’s loss to the Buffalo Bills regarding the injury sustained by quarterback Tua Tagovailoa.

Tagovailoa suffered a concussion in the third quarter during Thursday’s AFC East clash, when he scrambled on a fourth-and-four situation and collided with safety Damar Hamlin. After momentarily remaining down on the field, Tagovailoa stood and walked off the field on his own power.

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He was immediately taken back to the locker room and ruled out for the game with the injury. Although Tagovailoa didn’t miss any games in the 2023 campaign, the former Alabama standout suffered two known concussions in the 2022 season.

In the hours since, the talk surrounding the quarterback has been regarding his future in football, and if Tagovailoa would be better off retiring than returning to the Dolphins. McDaniel was asked about that possibility following the game, and immediately took issue with the question raised.

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“I think it would be so wrong of me to even sniff that subject,” the Dolphins leader said, during his press conference on Friday. “It’s more in line of actually caring about the human being, and that’s something that, entirely, you’re talking about his career — his career is his, you know? That’s something that I think — I just really, really, really wish — I totally understand it, and it’s not misplaced. I totally get how that’s where people want to go to. 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, you know, does genuinely care, that should be that last thing on your mind, because you don’t — what do you think — if I were to answer that question, I’d be like, ‘Alright, this is my thoughts on his career,’ and he read it. If he felt, if he agreed with it, or he disagreed with it, either way, I’ve just made him worse. So, I’m not taking this opportunity.

“I don’t think it’s appropriate, simply because of my care and regard, and I don’t think those types of conversations — when you’re talking about somebody’s career, I think it probably is only fair that their career can be decided by them.”

Moving forward, it’ll be fascinating to see what the road to recovery looks like for Tua Tagovailoa, and the NFL will be keeping a watchful eye on how his future is handled. Regardless, it’s a somber day in Miami for Dolphins fans, and for football enthusiasts as a whole, as one of the league’s bright, young stars deals with another head injury.