Latest News;A $124 million wager follows Tua Tagovailoa’s most recent concussion.
After two concussions caused him to miss five games during the 2022 NFL season, Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa said he considered retiring.
Instead, he returned to start every game for the Dolphins in 2023 and lead the NFL in passing yards.
In Thursday night’s game against the Buffalo Bills, Tagovailoa left with another concussion. While some in the media and the NFL community have advised the former Alabama All-American to walk away from the game rather than risk permanent damage, NFL Network reported Tagovailoa doesn’t intend to do so.
When Tagovailoa spoke about weighing retirement after the 2022 season, the quarterback said: “I love the game of football, and if I didn’t, I would have quit a long time ago.”
While love of the game might go a long way in Tagovailoa’s decision this time around, he has something much more tangible riding on his choice – money.
After Tagovailoa’s big season in 2024, the Dolphins signed the quarterback to a four-year, $212.4 million contract extension – and he’ll never get most of that money if he retires voluntarily.
The contract guaranteed Tagovailoa a payday of $93.171 million when he signed it – a $42 million signing bonus, a $1.125 million salary for the 2024 season, a $25.046 million salary for the 2025 season and a $25 million option bonus due between March 12-14, 2025.
If Tagovailoa retires voluntarily, the $50.046 million guarantee for 2025 would be voided.
Tagovailoa’s contract also includes $74 million more in guaranteed money under a particular circumstance – if he is injured and cannot play.
The money guaranteed against injury includes $54 million – a $39 million salary and $15 million bonus — of compensation due to the quarterback in 2026 and $20 million of his $36 million of compensation in 2027.
If Tagovailoa retires voluntarily, even because of his latest head injury, he walks away from that money, too, bringing the total of amount he’ll be leaving behind to $124.046 million, which doesn’t include the non-guaranteed money in his contract for the 2027 and 2028 seasons.
But Tagovailoa could collect the full $124.046 million without playing another down – if he never gets medically cleared to return to the football field. In that case, Tagovailoa’s guarantees, including the injury guarantees, remain in place.
“He was downstairs today smiling with his teammates,” McDaniel said. “He’s working with the trainers and medical staff diligently, and as far as I’m concerned, you’re in the (concussion) protocol and I think he’s doing well today and we take it day-by-day.
“He was feeling good, but what does that mean in terms of a medical diagnosis? I don’t base my judgments on my interactions with him necessarily as much as it is hearing the end result of the medical examination and where he’s at.
“It was good to see him, and I know his teammates were pumped to see him.”
McDaniel said the Dolphins had not decided if they would place Tagovailoa on injured reserve, which would require him to miss at least four games.
Miami plays the Seattle Seahawks at 3:05 p.m. CDT Sunday at Lumen Field in Seattle.
