Tua Tagovailoa: The Comeback Kid

Photo Credit: Patrick Smith, Getty Images

Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is a great example of a comeback kid, someone who comes back from so much adversity to eventually triumph in the end. He was picked by the Miami Dolphins at No. 5 overall in the 2020 NFL Draft, and his play at the QB position helped the Dolphins end a playoff drought in 2022. However, that 2022 playoff run didn’t come without some complications.

During a Thursday Night Football game during the season against the Cincinnati Bengals, Tagovailoa took a sack in the second quarter, hitting his head hard on the turf after taking the hit. He had taken another hit in the game prior and was already questionable to play in this game with a concussion, but played in the Thursday night game anyway. With the concussion he was suspected to have after the previous game, fans were horrified when Tagovailoa did not move on the field for minutes that felt like hours. He was transported to the hospital where he stayed the night, but was diagnosed with major neck and head injuries. He played some snaps the next week in a game against the Green Bay Packers, but was almost immediately pulled after showing more concussion-like symptoms in that game.

Tagovailoa returned to play a full 17-game slate this season, an inspiring feat after implying his injuries might lead to a retirement from football. Tagovailoa’s return breathed new life into the Dolphins’ offense. His performance this season puts his career numbers at 12,466 passing yards with 80 touchdowns and a 67% completion percentage. Tagovailoa was voted to play in the Pro Bowl this season, and will take his No. 6 seeded Dolphins on the road to play the Kansas City Chiefs in the Wild Card Round of the 2023 playoffs.