What questions does NFL face after latest concussion?

Image source, Getty Images

Ben CollinsBBC Sport journalist

• Published15 September 2024

Concussion in the NFL is back in the spotlight after Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa suffered another head injury on Thursday.

After two concussions in 2022, he stayed fit last season and led Miami into the play-offs to earn a new long-term contract.

But the 26-year-old from Hawaii suffered another concussion last week - his third in less than two years and fourth overall, including his college career.

Many pundits and ex-players are now calling for him to retire - and some have even said the NFL should take the decision out of his hands.

So what questions must the league answer as it faces losing one of its franchise quarterbacks at the peak of his powers?

Should Tagovailoa retire?

Tagovailoa will now be assessed under the NFL's return-to-participation protocol, a five-step process players must clear before returning to action.

They are assessed by a team physician and an independent neurological consultant (INC), who will also consider the player's past exposures and medical history.

Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel said the timeline for Tagovailoa's potential return is "the furthest thing from my mind" as he is "caring about the human being". But once the player is passed fit, it will then be his decision whether to put himself back in harm's way.

Tagovailoa admitted contemplating retirement, external

Twelve new models are available this season - five of which are the best rated ever - while six older models are now prohibited. There is also more position-specific helmets available than ever before, with eight being introduced.

And despite the benefit brought by the caps, the NFL has said six helmets provide "as much – if not more – protection than a different helmet model paired with a Guardian Cap".

Tagovailoa switched to a quarterback-specific helmet when they became available last year. He was not wearing a cap on Thursday and it is not known which helmet he was wearing.

But if it was one of those six models, and he was still concussed, the NFL must ask what more it can do to prevent one of its most exciting talents having to retire in his prime.