I Was Simply Trying to Make a Routine Tackle

Tua Tagovailoa left Thursday’s game against the Buffalo Bills after suffering his third documented concussion within a two-year span. Ironically, the player who tackled the Miami Dolphins quarterback was Damar Hamlin, the safety who experienced cardiac arrest on the field in 2022. Despite the circumstances, Hamlin minimized his involvement, asserting he was merely trying to play football.

“I was just trying to make a routine tackle,” Hamlin explained to reporters, as noted by The Athletic. “I was trying to get them off the field on fourth down.”

Video replays from the game reveal that Tagovailoa brought on the contact by lowering his head during a critical fourth-down run. Instead of sliding to avoid the hit, he collided with Hamlin’s chest before rolling off the defender’s legs and hitting the ground. Initially, Hamlin assumed Tagovailoa was down due to cramping, according to The Athletic. It wasn’t until the quarterback displayed the fencing response—a sign often associated with severe brain injuries—that trainers rushed onto the field for assistance.

The incident occurred nearly two years after Hamlin needed CPR and a medically induced coma following his own collapse on the field, which resulted from a seemingly routine tackle against the Cincinnati Bengals. Reflecting on the events from Thursday night, Hamlin underscored the extensive mental and physical efforts it took to recover from such traumatic experiences.

“It’s trauma,” he remarked. “It will always be there. I’m able to not be affected by it because of the work that I’ve done. I went through trauma therapy. I have a psychologist I talk to. It’s allowed me to push my mind forward and my process forward. I did the hard stuff last year—putting the pads on, tackling, getting game-ready—so I know I’m now perfectly fine and completely able to go back and play.”

When discussing the possibility of experiencing further trauma on the field, Hamlin maintained a pragmatic outlook.

“It’s football,” he said. “I did the hard stuff last year to help clear my mind. I know that the field is one of the safest places for my situation after what happened. We have so many professionals who practice to handle these situations, and that’s allowed me to return to the game. My mind is free. It’s clear. I’m just out there trying to play football.”

This latest incident with Tagovailoa raises concerns regarding player safety, particularly for quarterbacks, who are often vulnerable during high-intensity plays. The NFL has taken steps over the years to implement stricter protocols regarding head injuries and player safety, but incidents like these segue into ongoing debates about the extent and effectiveness of those measures.

Fans and commentators alike have voiced concerns, expressing that one incident shouldn’t overshadow the league’s efforts, although the discussions about player safety have amplified. The physical nature of football inherently carries risks, yet players like Hamlin and Tagovailoa are often seen as champions of health and safety education in the sport.

As the Dolphins await further updates on Tagovailoa’s condition, the football community continues to rally around him and emphasize the importance of prioritizing player health. For now, both players represent resilience in the face of adversity. They highlight the multifaceted nature of recovery—both physical and mental—and the necessity for ongoing support from teams and mental health professionals in the sports arena.