Nick Saban weighs in on Tua Tagovailoa's NFL future, says it should be a 'medical decision'
Nick Saban addressed Tua Tagovailoa’s NFL future during an appearance on the Pat McAfee show on Friday afternoon.
Tagovailoa had to exit Miami’s loss to Buffalo on Thursday night after suffering an apparent head injury. Tagovailoa has already suffered multiple documented concussions in his young career, leading to some widespread speculation about his future in the sport.
Saban acknowledged the dangers in Tagovailoa continuing to play on Friday and urged him and his family to take the advice of doctors — whatever that may be.
“Tua is such a great competitor, but I think this has to be a medical decision,” Saban said. “I mean, 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 that you’re not compromising your future health-wise by continuing to play football. But I think that’s a medical decision, I don’t think that’s something for me to speculate on. I know a lot of people are doing it, and more power to them. But I think the family should not be influenced by that, Tua should not be influenced by that. It should be all based on medical professionals.”
“Tua is such a great competitor and he’s a great person..
I think Tua and his family should listen to all the medical evidence and they shouldn’t be influenced by anybody else” ~ Nick Saban #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/FXAnUWAzOP
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) September 13, 2024
Saban, of course, coached Tagovailoa at Alabama from 2017-19. His accomplishments at Alabama include a second-half comeback over Georgia to win the 2017 national championship game. Tagovailoa departed Tuscaloosa as one of the most successful quarterbacks in recent Alabama history.
As of Friday afternoon, Tagovailoa’s status — both in the short-and-longterm — remains unclear.
Tua should continue playing.
And then not be able to form complete sentences for the rest of his life after he gets his next concussion?
He risks ending up like Kevin Turner and dieing of ALS.
ALS incoming.
No amount of money can buy back your mind. He probably should have hung it up a few years ago.