Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa made waves in Monday Night Football with a bold tackle attempt that had fans talking.
Just weeks after returning from a concussion that sidelined him early in the season, Tagovailoa put his health on the line in an unexpected way during the Dolphins’ 23-15 win over the Los Angeles Rams.
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Tua Tagovailoa’s explains his head-first tackle
The incident occurred in a chaotic first half marked by turnovers from both teams.
After Tagovailoa threw an interception to Rams linebacker Christian Rozeboom, he didn’t hesitate to pursue Rozeboom in an attempt to make the tackle.
But his effort raised eyebrows as he dove head-first, colliding with Rozeboom’s knee.
For a player with a well-documented concussion history, it was a risky move that immediately sparked concern among NFL fans on social media.
Tagovailoa appeared unshaken, standing up quickly without showing signs of injury.
After the game, he addressed his decision to dive head-first, joking about the questionable form of his tackle.
“I went up to that dude that intercepted me and asked him, ‘Bro, you couldn’t just like run out of bounds or like cut back? Like, you seen me and I seen you,'” Tagovailoa shared.
He continued, “He told me after the game, he was like, ‘There’s no room. Like there was nowhere else to go.’ So, you know, he gotta do what he gotta do to help his team win games, and I wasn’t planning on using my head to hit him.”
Reflecting on his form, Tagovailoa laughed, admitting, “Didn’t feel any of that. That was pretty bad tackling form though. That was pretty terrible.”
Tua never thought of retiring from the NFL
Despite concerns over his health, Tagovailoa, a five-year NFL veteran, has shown resilience and commitment to his career.
He explained that although his latest concussion was challenging, the idea of retiring “never stuck in [his] mind.”
Throughout his recovery, Tagovailoa kept in touch with his doctors, who assured him that he was fit to continue playing.
“If they were to tell me that I couldn’t play, I would have definitely taken that into consideration, but there were no talks like that,” he said.
With his family’s support and determination to stay healthy, Tagovailoa remains focused on his goals.
He wants to avoid becoming “the poster boy for concussions” and is determined to continue leading his team while managing his health responsibly.
