Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has been a rising star in the NFL, but his series of concussions, especially his recent one during the Bills game, has brought serious attention to the league's ongoing struggle with player safety. These raised concerns about how concussions are managed in football and the long-term health risks players face.

It all started in Week 3 of the 2022 season when Tagovailoa suffered a hard hit during a game against the Buffalo Bills. He appeared disoriented and stumbled, but the Dolphins medical team reported it as a back injury, allowing him to return to the field later in the game. Fans and doctors nationwide quickly questioned whether the team handled the situation properly, considering the possibility of a concussion. Just a few days later, during a Week 4 game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Tua suffered another brutal hit. This time, he collapsed on the field in a terrifying moment, his body apparently frozen, his fingers locked in a position known as the “fencing response,” which is a neurological response to head trauma. This led to lots of outrage about how the Dolphins had handled his injury the week prior. In week 2 of the 2024 season, Tua was hit by Buffalo Bills safety, Damar Hamlin. Tua slammed his head into Hamlin’s chest, causing him to get yet another concussion. While the NFL handled this situation correctly, and took him out for the game, they still have a lot of work to do in continuing to keep players safe.

All of the incidents have raised concerns about the NFL’s concussion protocols. These protocols are meant to protect players from returning to the field too soon after head injuries, but in Tagovailoa’s case, they weren’t followed. After Tua’s second concussion, the NFL implemented a new rule that states if any player is showing signs of unsteady movement or motor issues, they must be removed from the game immediately. While Tua’s injuries are a concern for his career, it is also a wake-up call about the serious risks that football players face. Concussions have been linked to long-term health problems including memory loss or depression. The NFL has made progress in improving concussion protocols, but Tua’s injuries show there’s still more to be done and that the system isn’t perfect yet, and probably never will be, as it is a very dangerous sport. 

This raises the question of what this means for our very own team, the Buffalo Bills, as the Dolphins and Bills have been rivals for years and years. And how will the NFL continue to protect their players?