It was a tense moment Thursday night when Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa suffered another concussion during the 31-10 loss to the Buffalo Bills. Former Alabama head coach Nick Saban, who coached Tagovailoa during his college years, shared his thoughts on the injury during an appearance on *The Pat McAfee Show*.
“I plan to talk to him today, but haven’t been able to reach him yet,” Saban said. “I’ve got a house down in Florida, so we catch up sometimes when I’m there. We even played golf together in the off-season. Tua’s a great competitor, but I believe this decision has to be left to the medical experts. They understand the risks of repeated concussions far better than the rest of us.
“I think Tua and his family need to consider all the medical advice carefully. You don’t want to jeopardize your long-term health just to keep playing football,” Saban added. “It’s not for me to speculate, and even though a lot of people are, I don’t think Tua or his family should let outside opinions sway them. This has to be a call made by 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
Alabama football’s Nick Saban speaks on Tua Tagovailoa’s injury
Tua Tagovailoa created countless memories with the Alabama football team, starting with his iconic appearance in the 2018 national championship game. Coming in for Jalen Hurts late in the game, Tagovailoa threw the game-winning touchdown, cementing his place in college football history. However, alongside those legendary moments, Nick Saban also witnessed the many injuries Tagovailoa endured, seeing parallels between Thursday night’s concussion and previous incidents.
“This guy is an incredible competitor, and one thing he just doesn’t know how to do is give up on a play,” Saban said. “I remember when he hurt his hip at Alabama. There was nowhere to go with the ball, no one open… but he was still trying to make a play and ended up taking a hit he didn’t need to. I hated seeing him get hurt.”
Saban continued, “It was the same thing with last night’s play. He could’ve slid; he already had the first down. But Tua’s a tough-minded competitor who’s always trying to set the tone for his team, and sometimes that leads to injuries.”
"You ask Tua how he's doing & he's gonna say I'm doing great and thanks for asking..
One thing he doesn't know how to do is give up on a play..
He's a competitive, tough minded guy that's trying to set the tone for his team..
His teammates love him & I've never seen him ever… https://t.co/9VDMvDSEkj pic.twitter.com/CYOC2h5l4x
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) September 13, 2024
Saban also reflected on how he first recruited Tagovailoa, noting the strong sense of tradition and compassion that Tua and his family exhibited from the very beginning. “From the moment we met, it was clear how much family and values meant to him and his loved ones,” Saban said. “It’s part of what made him such a special player and person.”
There’s no doubt Saban is deeply saddened by what happened, but he remains pragmatic, emphasizing that Tagovailoa must consider the advice of medical professionals. “Ultimately, it’s his health and future on the line,” Saban remarked, reinforcing the importance of making decisions based on sound medical guidance.
While time will reveal what comes next for Tagovailoa, his unforgettable moments with Saban and the Crimson Tide will forever be etched in Alabama football history. As the program enters a new chapter under Kalen DeBoer, the legacy of Tua and Saban’s era will always hold a special place in the hearts of Alabama fans.
