Nick Saban had nothing but kind words about Tua Tagovailoa – and his family – Friday, the day after the Miami quarterback sustained a concussion in a loss to the Buffalo Bills.
Tagovailoa, who played at Alabama under Saban, is now dealing with the third diagnosed concussion of his NFL career, all of them coming in the last 24 months.
“He’s such a great competitor, but I think this has to be a medical decision,” Saban said on “The Pat McAfee Show.” “You have to let medical people who understand the circumstances around these injuries, these concussions – when you have multiple concussions, that’s not a good sign. I think Tua and his family and everyone else should listen to all the medical evidence to make sure you’re not compromising your future, health-wise, by continuing to play football, but that is medical decision, not me to speculate on.”
There are now questions about his future — both short-term and long-term.
“The family should not be influenced by that,” Saban said. “Tua should not be influenced by that. It should be based on medical professionals.”
The Miami Dolphins quarterback was hurt in his team’s 31-10 loss to the Buffalo Bills on Thursday night, sustaining the injury on a play where he collided into Bills defensive back Damar Hamlin. Tagovailoa, who was rushing successfully for a first down, initiated the contact by lowering his shoulder into Hamlin instead of sliding as many quarterbacks do on a scramble.
Saban added there is one thing Tagovailoa – as a quarterback – has never been able to do.
“One thing he doesn’t know how to do is give up on a play,” Saban explained. “Even when he hurt his hip at Alabama, there was nowhere to go with that ball. … The receiver fell down. There’s no one to throw it to, and he’s still trying to make a play. Takes a hit he doesn’t need to take. I hate it that he got hurt. I wish I would ‘ve taken him out of the game. Hindsight is always 20-20.”
He brought up the example because he said it mirrored Thursday’s play.
“Same thing with the play last night,” Saban said. “He could have slid. He had a first down, but he’s a competitive, tough-minded guy who is trying to set the tone for his team who ended up injured because of it.”
Tagovailoa was diagnosed with two concussions in 2022, as well as one when he played at Alabama.
There have been many other issues, including some in college that were serious. At Alabama, he had a procedure for a high ankle sprain in October 2019, which caused him to miss one game. A month later, Tagovailoa dislocated his right hip against Mississippi State, which prematurely ended his college career.
Mark Heim is a reporter for The Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Mark_Heim. He can be heard on “The Opening Kickoff” on WNSP-FM 105.5 FM in Mobile or on the free Sound of Mobile App from 6 to 9 a.m. daily.
