NASCAR Legend Questions Tua Tagovailoa’s Future as Concussion Fears Mount

The topic of athlete health and safety, particularly regarding concussions, has once again drawn attention as prominent sports figures express concern over Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa following a recent concussion. Voices from both the NFL and NASCAR have weighed in.

Dale Earnhardt Jr., a retired NASCAR legend, and Luke Kuechly, a former NFL linebacker, both have had a history of concussion, giving them the unique experience to be able to comment on what’s happened here.

Tagovailoa has faced multiple concussions in recent seasons, so it’s no surprise there is now concern about how long he can sustain his place in the sport. This comes after his recent head injury during a game against the Buffalo Bills, adding to his growing list of injuries since his college days.

Tagovailoa’s concussion history is unfortunately long, tracing back to his college years at the University of Alabama, where he suffered various injuries including a broken finger and knee sprain. His move to the NFL came with more challenges, with concussions becoming a concerning recurrent issue.

During the 2022 season during a game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Tagovailoa showed a “fencing response,” indicative of a serious brain injury. Subsequent concussions continued to mar his career, with the latest occurring against the Buffalo Bills in the 2024 season, pushing him back on the injured reserve list.

The NFL, facing ongoing scrutiny for its handling of such injuries, has responded by tightening rules around player safety, especially following Tagovailoa’s controversial returns to games post-injury. Players showing signs of ataxia must now be removed from gameplay, a mandate implemented to protect athletes from further harm. This came after changes in 2022, leading to the firing of an independent neurologist who cleared Tagovailoa too early to return to the field.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. commented on the scenario, despite coming under the NFL umbrella.

“I find myself hesitant to even comment on Tua’s situation because it’s not my situation,” he said on his podcast (above). His own career, truncated by concerns over repeated concussions, mirrors the struggles faced by contact sport athletes who must grapple with the decision between continuing their passion and preserving their health.

Luke Kuechly, joining Earndardt on the podcast, responded:

“The hardest part is knowing like, he can’t play right now, and all he wants to do is play football,” he said. “You take all this stuff away, there are certain guys in this league and I’m sure in racing that, ‘Hey if we’re not going to pay you, some of you guys will still do it.’ That to me is the most unfortunate part that I feel for him.”

He continued:

“He’s got great people down there, they’re going to take care of him, they’re going to do everything they can to make sure that he is 100% ready to go and they’re going to make the best decision not for the Miami Dolphins or the NFL but for Tua.”

Earnhardt Jr. further confirmed his confidence in the support system in place around him:

“People like myself you know that are fans that are watching from the sideline often maybe forget just how protected the players are. Nobody in his world and the Miami Dolphins and the NFL, want to see him risk injury unnecessarily.”

Concussion management remains a vital issue, but during the 2024 pre-season, they were at a record low according to a report from NFL itself.

“The fewest number of concussions in practices and games (44) since tracking began in 2015,” it read.