Tua, it's time for you to retire.

On August 20th, 2023, I posted my opinion on why Tua Tagovailoa continuing to play football after suffering 2 concussions was very risky. The following season, he wasn't hurt, and it seemed that my opinion was invalid- he'd have no issues playing since he took the necessary steps to prevent concussions. According to Tua himself, he had gained weight, strengthened his neck, and took Ju-Jitsu classes to prevent concussions from happening again. And, for that 2023-2024 season, he didn't suffer any concussions and started every game. This made me very happy, and I was glad I was wrong.

At least, glad for that little moment.

Because on Thursday, September 12th, 2024, in the 3rd quarter of a game against the Buffalo Bills on Thursday Night Football, Tagovailoa ran for a first down, and instead of sliding down to avoid contact, led with his head to initiate contact with safety Damar Hamlin. This led to the picture above, where Tua was on the ground and showing all the signs of the concussions he had sustained against the Bengals on that Thursday night two seasons ago. Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, went silent.

And just like that, what had become an afterthought of two seasons past became the talk of every sports network: Tua suffers another concussion. And every sports network (and I) have the same conclusion: Tua should not be playing in the NFL anymore.

Tua's previous two concussions were severe, but especially the first one he sustained against the Bengals. That one left him unable to walk off the field, and he was rushed to a hospital. While Tua's second concussion didn't immediately appear as severe, it took him a month to clear the NFL's concussion protocol- the average time to return is 9 days. Now, while this one doesn't appear as severe, as he was able to walk off the field with under his own power and was alert and responsive, it is still a very, very bad occurrence for Tua. The reason? With each concussion, the chances of severe, long-term damage increase exponentially. This is especially prevalent with the infamous brain condition known as CTE-or Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy.

CTE is a progressive and fatal brain disease that can only be diagnosed after one's death. CTE is caused by repeated, traumatic hits to the head, like multiple concussions. CTE can make people take their lives, like in the case of Junior Seau, who fatally shot himself in the chest. Demaryius Thomas is another player who died due to CTE. In his case, he had a fatal seizure that CTE induced. Out of every possible long-term damage, Tua can sustain from his strings of concussions, CTE is by far the worst. And here's the worst part about this situation: now, Tua's decision to retire or not doesn't just concern him anymore. It will directly impact the lives of his two young children.

When Tua suffered his first concussion, he was already married. And while his decision then would massively impact his wife's life as well, it still isn't nearly as big of an impact as it is now. Simply put, Tua needs to understand that he has two very young children now. When someone has CTE, it causes them to not be in the right state of mind for years before their deaths. And this isn't their fault, as their brain has been so damaged that it just doesn't function properly. Symptoms like depression, anxiety, behavioral changes, and motor issues are all common symptoms of CTE before one's death. Additionally, players such as Junior Seau, who died from suicide in 2012 (and was diagnosed with CTE after his death) just 3 years after he retired show how quickly CTE can take a life. For Tua's young children, both of whom are under 2 years old, that leaves a very real possibility of Tua passing away due to CTE before those kids turn 18. That would be infinitely traumatic to those kids. The death of a parent during childhood had been linked to schizophrenia, depression, and suicide, all things I'm sure Tua would do everything in his power to stop his kids from suffering.

And that's the point of this whole article: Tua has the power to prevent any further damage to himself but more importantly his children. Tua, who is known as a great father, has the power to prevent any further brain damage to himself, and has the power to prevent CTE from developing in his brain if it hasn't already developed. And if it has developed, he has the power to make sure it doesn't get as severe as it can get, leaving a better chance his kids aren't scarred for life.

Tua, if you are reading this, I just want to tell you this: I love you as a player, but I care for you as a human being too. You already have received a guaranteed $167 million from your new contract. That and your career earnings are more than enough to create and maintain generational wealth. If you step away from the game now, no one will hold it against you; you will be respected for leaving the game to care for yourself like Andrew Luck and Luke Kuechly were when they stepped down. But more importantly, your decision to throw yourself into danger and possibly end your life short doesn't just affect you and your wife; it affects your children as well. Your young children could have their lives forever altered if you return to the game. All I'm saying is, just retire. And if for nothing else, do it for the sake of your children, so they can grow and have a father who is fully there mentally, not unknowingly struggling with CTE and suffering for years on end. Tua, I am a huge fan, but it's time to hang up the cleats.