A discussion about Tua Tagovailoa’s concussion and his future in the NFL took an unexpected turn on ESPN’s First Take on Friday, leading to a heated debate on gender roles and sacrifices between Stephen A. Smith and Elle Duncan.
The conversation began in the wake of Tagovailoa’s third NFL concussion, which occurred during the Miami Dolphins’ 31-10 loss to the Buffalo Bills on Thursday. After a collision with Damar Hamlin, the 26-year-old quarterback’s injury raised serious concerns, with many questioning whether he should consider early retirement for the sake of his long-term health.
As First Take tackled the issue, Stephen A. Smith focused on the mindset of men in high-risk professions like football, explaining the sacrifices players like Tagovailoa make to ensure the financial security of their families.
“Molly [Qerim] and Elle, I can say this: As men, our mentality a lot of the time is different,” Smith began. “You’re willing to put it all on the line to secure the well-being of your family, even in the event you’re not around.”
He continued by sharing a personal anecdote. “There are sacrifices I make as a father all the time. I’m not around my daughters as much as I’d like to be. Sometimes they resent it. I don’t care. And you know why? Because I grew up starving. So anything I do to ensure my family’s well-being, even if I’m not around, I’m willing to do it.”
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Smith emphasized that this mentality extends to many NFL players, stating, “These football players make those decisions every day. Provide, protect—that’s our No. 1 priority as men. That plays a role in the kinds of decisions men make.”
Elle Duncan quickly countered Smith’s point by sharing her own experiences of sacrifice as a mother, highlighting the risks and challenges women face in both personal and professional spheres.
“As a woman who has two scars from hip to hip from having two C-sections to create a family, I understand sacrifice,” Duncan said. “As a Black woman in this country, where maternal mortality rates are disproportionately high, I understand making sacrifices and trying to mitigate risks when it comes to your family, expanding your family, and protecting your family.”
Duncan’s remarks shifted the conversation back to Tagovailoa, stressing the importance of his loved ones having an honest conversation with him about his future. “All I am simply imploring is that anyone in Tua’s corner—someone who truly loves him—should be having a real conversation with him right now about what quality of life looks like,” she said.
Addressing former NFL player and fellow panelist Ryan Clark, Duncan referenced his podcast, The Pivot, to underscore the importance of athletes considering life beyond their playing careers. “We all face an existential crisis at some point. Ryan, you host a podcast called The Pivot, and I hope someone in Tua’s life is having that conversation with him—whether he wants to keep doing this or not.”
Her comments reflect a growing concern in the NFL community, with many calling for Tagovailoa to consider retirement after his latest concussion. Several prominent voices, including former players Dez Bryant and Shannon Sharpe, as well as sports commentators Nick Wright and Patrick Mahomes, took to social media to express concern for Tagovailoa’s well-being and urged him to prioritize his health.
On Friday, reports surfaced indicating that the Miami Dolphins are considering shutting down Tagovailoa for the remainder of the season to allow him time to reflect on his future. A source revealed: “The healing and the emotions are at a high right now, and no immediate decisions are going to be made, but after this latest concussion, the likelihood that the NFL and the Miami Dolphins are going to highly recommend he retire is almost definite.”
Tagovailoa’s third concussion has left the Dolphins’ season and his career in a precarious situation. Despite exiting Thursday’s game with 145 passing yards, one touchdown, and a completion rate of 17 out of 25 passes, the focus is now on whether he will play again. His history of head injuries includes a grade 1 concussion sustained in September 2022 and a more severe grade 3 concussion in December that year, which sidelined him for the rest of the season.
With the Buffalo Bills now 2-0 after their victory over Miami, the Dolphins sit at 1-1. As the team moves forward, Tagovailoa’s health and future in the NFL will undoubtedly remain a central topic of conversation, both in the sports world and within his inner circle.
The First Take debate, which veered from football to broader discussions of sacrifice and family, highlighted the complexity of decisions faced by athletes like Tagovailoa, who must weigh the risks to their long-term health against their commitment to their careers and families.
Whether Tagovailoa chooses to continue playing or retire, his decision will be one of immense consequence, not just for his career but for his life beyond the game.
