Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has no plans to retire after sustaining a fourth career concussion Thursday night against the Buffalo Bills, according to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network. Tagovailoa left the field in the third quarter after taking a hit from Bills safety Damar Hamlin, marking yet another concussion in a career that’s been plagued by head injuries. In 2023, Tagovailoa briefly considered retiring from football due to the health risks.

Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel emphasized that his primary concern is Tagovailoa’s day-to-day recovery, stating it would be inappropriate to speculate about his future in the NFL or force any decisions that could cause added stress. McDaniel deferred to medical experts and Tagovailoa’s personal decisions regarding his career. By contrast, Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce told reporters on Friday that he would encourage Tagovailoa to retire for the sake of his long-term health, citing the risks and severity of his repeated concussions. 

Despite the health concerns, Tagovailoa has been resilient in his career. He recently signed a four-year $212 million contract extension after leading the Dolphins to the playoffs last season. Now, his focus is on returning to the field as soon as possible.